The New Orleans Saints will have a strong vantage point when the annual Senior Bowl kicks off at the end of January.
Saints RBs coach and associated head coach Joel Thomas has been named one of the head coaches for the game, meaning he will take charge of leading one of the two teams through multiple practices at the annual scouting showcase.
Thomas will lead the American Team, while Eagles DL coach Clint Hurtt will lead the National Team. It's the second consecutive year that Thomas will hold a prominent role at the event, serving as an offensive coordinator last season while he was still a member of the Giants' coaching staff.
"I'm honored to be chosen as the American Team head coach for the 2026 Senior Bowl," Thomas told the Saints team website. "This is the elite college football all-star game that has featured some of the top players in the sport as they look to take that next step in their careers. It gives players from schools of all sizes the opportunity to compete, work under the tutelage of NFL coaches and receive great exposure to general managers, scouts and coaches. I had a great experience in Mobile in 2025 as the American Team offensive coordinator and look forward to getting to know and work with these outstanding young men throughout the week in making this a great experience for them."
Thomas spent nine seasons as the Saints running backs coach before departing for New York in the 2024 season, but returned to New Orleans as a member of Moore's initial staff.
The rest of the Senior Bowl coaching staffs have not yet been announced, but the Saints typically have multiple assistants serving in coaching roles and typically send a large contingent to the scouting event that largely serves to kick off draft season. The Saints also have a strong track record for landing Senior Bowl players in the draft, a group that recently has included:
- QB Tyler Shough (2025, No. 40 overall)
- S Jonas Sanker (2025, No. 93 overall)
- CB Quincy Riley (2025, No. 131
- RB Devin Neal (2025, No. 184 overall)
- TE Moliki Matavao (2025, No. 248 overall)
- OT Taliese Fuaga (2024, No. 14 overall)
- QB Spencer Rattler (2024, No. 150 overall)
- DE Isaiah Foskey (2023, No. 40 overall)
- OL Nick Saldiveri (2023, No. 103 overall)
- QB Jake Haener (2023, No 127 overall)
- OT Trevor Penning (2022, No. 19 overall)
- CB Alontae Taylor (2022, No. 49 overall)
- LB D'Marco Jackson (2022, No. 161 overall)
- DE Payton Turner (2021, No. 28 overall)
- QB Ian Book (2021, No. 133 overall)
- LB Zack Baun (2020, No. 74 overall)
- TE Adam Trautman (2020, No. 105 overall)
You'd have to go back to 2019 to find a draft where the Saints didn't land at least two Senior Bowl players. That year they walked away with Erik McCoy with their first pick (No. 48 overall).
The Saints will also have a presence at additional scouting events, including the East-West Shrine Bowl where defensive pass game coordinator Terry Joseph will serve as the defensive coordinator.