Kellen Moore's first New Orleans Saints staff is starting to take shape, and that will include at least a pair of familiar names.
The first known hire is expected to be Brendan Nugent in the role of offensive line coach, according to a report from NewOrleans.football. Nugent's name is a familiar one, having previously served as Saints OL coach from 2015-'21 on Sean Payton's staff. Nugent and Moore also worked together on the Chargers' staff in 2023.
The Saints OL was a major question coming into the 2023 season, with Trevor Penning shifting to right tackle and rookie Taliese Fuaga starting at left tackle. There were significant injuries at the interior line spots. That group's OL coach, John Benton, is heading out to Seattle with a host of former Saints coaches, including former OC Klint Kubiak.
One other name expected on Moore's staff is a holdover in popular WRs coach Keith Williams, who will reportedly stick around in that role. Williams has extensive experience as both an NFL coach and private WRs coach, joining the Saints in 2023 and becoming very popular among the players. Saints GM Mickey Loomis has said previously that Moore would be allowed to build his own staff without interference.
The biggest questions to be answered will be that of the coordinators, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has been a popular name in those conversations. One way or another WWL's Deuce McAllister expects a veteran presence, and assistants with head coaching experience to litter the Saints coaching ranks next season.
"Particularly being a first-time head coach ... you want to make sure he has one or two staffers on his staff that have been head coaches prior," Deuce said on WWL. So whether that’s in the NFL, whether that’s college, just to make sure from an administrative standpoint you could help take some of that pressure off of him."
Moore will be officially introduced as the Saints head coach during a Thursday press conference, scheduled at 11:30 a.m. You can hear it all on WWL AM-870, FM-105.3 and the Audacy app.
