Saints add Robert Blanton, Jay Rodgers to coaching staff
03/01/2025
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints were back to adding to their defensive coaching staff this weekend with another pair of solid hires.
Per CBS college football reporter Matt Zenitz, the Saints are adding two coaches to their defensive coaching staff whose titles are currently unknown, Miami (Ohio) safeties coach and defensive passing game coordinator Robert Blanton and former Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Jay Rodgers.
The #Saints are expected to hire Miami (Ohio) defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach Robert Blanton, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
The former Notre Dame and NFL safety produced an all-conference player each of the last three years.https://t.co/qOetA1jj8s pic.twitter.com/P1XuoOTyRg
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 1, 2025
New Orleans filled both its defensive passing game coordinator and defensive line coaching positions, so Blanton and Rodgers are likely to end up with new titles on the Saints’ staff.
Robert Blanton
Blanton, a former Notre Dame and NFL safety, had success coaching the position during his time with the Redhawks. In last year’s coaching structure, former defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson worked closely with the safeties, while then-defensive coordinator Joe Woods focused on the cornerbacks. The coach is the fourth from the collegiate ranks to be hired by new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
The #Saints are expected to hire Miami (Ohio) defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach Robert Blanton, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
The former Notre Dame and NFL safety produced an all-conference player each of the last three years.https://t.co/qOetA1jj8s pic.twitter.com/P1XuoOTyRg
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 1, 2025
It will be interesting to see if the Saints hire separate for the defensive backs. Blanton could be assigned as the safeties coach, while another is hired to be the cornerbacks coach. NFL teams, including Staley’s 2020 Los Angeles Rams defensive staff, have done this in the past and it has been a popular trend among college staffs, as well.
Jay Rodgers
The Saints filled their defensive line coaching role with a major hire in LSU alum and former coach Bo Davis. However, Rodgers has a clear fit in the coaching roster.
He and Staley worked together with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2022-2023. During which time Rodgers was the outside linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator. New Orleans hired former Cal coach Peter Sirmon to lead their linebackers, but Rodgers could hold a similar role as the outside linebackers coach focused on generating pass rushers from the standup spots in a traditional 3-4 defense, which the Saints are expected to adopt under Staley’s eye.
The #Saints are expected to hire former #Falcons defensive line coach Jay Rodgers as a member of their defensive staff, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Was the Falcons’ defensive line coach last season. Previously worked under new Saints DB Brandon Staley with the Chargers.… pic.twitter.com/sKxRXnDhHn
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 1, 2025
The two hires represent further change for the Saints and continue to garner intrigue in the defensive side of the ball specifically.
