Saints clear to hire defensive coordinator immediately

By Ross Jackson

After hosting three defensive coordinator interviews this weekend, the New Orleans Saints should now be in the clear to make their hire whenever they and their preferred candidate are ready.

Much like the head coach search, NFL teams must conduct two interviews with external minority options, either coaches of color or female coaching candidates.

The Saints have reportedly held three interviews for the defensive coordinator job, with two of them being with minority candidates: Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones and Christian Parker, who holds the same pair of titles with the Philadelphia Eagles. The team also interviewed San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley.

Now that the league’s Rooney Rule has been satisfied, one of these three coaches could be the Saints’ hire. 

Staley is expected to be the favorite; however, Parker presents many of the same benefits and intrigue. Both candidates have familiarity with the new head coach in New Orleans, Kellen Moore. They each have also been under the tutelage of Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who Moore’s offense found plenty of success opposite on the way to a Super Bowl championship in 2024.

All three candidates have spent plenty of time working with 3-4 or odd-front defensive systems, which could signal an interest to change defensive schemes either this upcoming season or in the near future. 

Expect news on the team’s most important hire after the head coach in the coming days. With all requirements met and the NFL scouting combine and free agency right around the corner, the Saints may be motivated to move quickly.