Report: Saints hire Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints have completed their coordinator searches, with head coach Kellen Moore finalizing his staff by hiring San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach and former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Staley and Moore worked together as a head coach and offensive coordinator in Los Angeles in 2023. The two will now team up as the roles reverse, with Moore as the head coach and Staley as the coordinator.

Many may dismiss Staley because of his head coaching record with the Chargers, but the Saints are betting on his success as a defensive specialist, particularly his tenure with the Los Angeles Rams. A lot of the struggles Staley had during his time with the Chargers were connected to game management situations that would not be a part of his responsibilities in New Orleans.

The most interesting element of this hire will be the change it represents on defense from the Saints’ previous regime. Staley is noted as a bright, young defensive mind that does things fairly differently from what former coach Dennis Allen did. 

New Orleans will hope that these changes lead to greater success after the Saints finished No. 19 in scoring defense, No. 30 in total defense, No. 27 against the pass, and No. 31 against the run in 2024. The team desperately needs a spark and new direction on offense and Staley has the potential to provide exactly that.