Two names to watch for Saints defensive coordinator

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — After this weekend’s Super Bowl comes to a close, the New Orleans Saints should see some quick progress on building out their coaching staff.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is expected to become the team’s next head coach and ESPN Insider Jeremy Fowler presented some options (subscription required) for Moore to bring along as the team’s new defensive coordinator.

Per Fowler, San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker coach George Edwards are two names to watch to take the position.

“Both have history with Moore ,” Fowler writes. “Staley hired Moore as his offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2023, and Moore overlapped with Edwards in Dallas.”

Staley may have struggled as a head coach with the Chargers, but when he was the defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, he put together a fantastic year. The Rams defense in 2020 under Staley ranked No. 1 in both scoring and total yards allowed. The team finished No. 1 against the pass and No. 3 against the run.

That defense included All-Pro defenders in defensive tackle Aaron Donald (who was also the year’s defensive player of the year) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The personnel certainly made a difference just as much as the coaching. But being able to get the most out of that talent still speaks to Staley’s success with the Rams.

A shift to Staley would also signal a shift in defensive philosophy that could benefit New Orleans, whose system in recent years received criticism for being antiquated.

Edwards would likely bring forth a big switch in the defensive system as well. While his time as the defensive coordinator in Minnesota from 2014-2019 was spent pioneering a 4-3 system, his time in Tampa was spent supporting a 3-4 defensive attack.

While he was the defensive coordinator in Minnesota, Edwards did not call plays but was a part installing a top-10 scoring defense in five of his six seasons as the defensive coordinator. In the lone year outside of that range, his first in 2014, the unit was still ranked No. 11. Three of those top-10 years yielded three top-5 defenses including the No. 1 defense in 2017.

The initial expectation was that his 2020 departure from the Vikings would lead to him pursuing a play calling opportunity. However, he has not yet landed that chance. Perhaps if Moore lands his anticipated role as the Saints next head coach, Edwards will finally get that chance.

Fowler also quickly made reference to an offensive staff member that could land with Moore as well as Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, who has followed Moore from Dallas to the Chargers to Philadelphia in recent years. Nussmeier’s name is one that has been mentioned here as well.

A pair of additional names that may be worth watching as well include veteran defensive coordinator Wink Martindale as well as Green Bay Packers defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley. The latter overlapped with Moore as defensive coordinator of the Chargers in 2023.