With the 2025 NFL hiring cycle in movement, the Saints (5-12) are within the thick of the seek for their subsequent head coach.
As NewOrleans.Soccer’s Nick Underhill reported earlier this week, “The crew has a couple of dozen candidates they’re contemplating, and so they plan to interview portion of their candidate checklist.”
Thus far, NFL media reporters have linked seven candidates to New Orleans’ opening.
Here is our rating of the candidates for the Saints job, from the worst to finest match.
7. Giants offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka
Kafka is an sudden candidate, contemplating the Giants’ offensive woes the previous two seasons. In 2023, New York was twenty ninth in complete offense and thirtieth in factors; this season, the Giants had been thirtieth in complete offense and thirty first in factors.
However Kafka probably is gaining more interest from the Saints — and Bears — due to his work in Kansas Metropolis. He served as quarterbacks coach throughout two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes’ first two seasons because the Chiefs’ beginning quarterback.
New Orleans might be in search of somebody to develop Spencer Rattler right into a authentic beginning quarterback. He went 0-6 as a starter in 2025 however made optimistic strides in his final sport, going 26 of 42 for 240 yards and a landing in a must-win sport for Tampa Bay.
6. Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury
It is unbelievable what one season did for Kingsbury’s popularity. In January 2023, the Cardinals fired him after a 4-13 marketing campaign. He then served as an offensive analyst at USC final season.
Final February, he decided that altered his teaching trajectory. After initially agreeing to become the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, the Commanders swooped in and employed Kingsbury, setting him on a course for a number of head teaching interviews.
Kingsbury’s turnaround has been exceptional, however how his Cardinals tenure ended nonetheless leaves a bitter style. Whereas he may assist Rattler’s improvement, the Saints must be frightened about hiring one other head coach with a confirmed dropping monitor file after the Dennis Allen debacle.
5. Browns guide Mike Vrabel
Vrabel is a confirmed winner, going 54-45 in six seasons as Titans head coach. He is probably the most certified candidate on the Saints’ radar, however he may not be the appropriate match for a crew in rebuild mode. After restructuring soon-to-be-retired offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk’s contract, New Orleans has roughly $60 million in lifeless cash for 2025, setting the franchise up for an extended season. Vrabel belongs on a crew that may win instantly, one thing the Saints cannot provide.
4. Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore
Moore’s constructed a powerful resume over his six seasons as an offensive coordinator, together with 4 seasons with the Cowboys (2019-22) and one with the Chargers (2023). Three of his offenses completed within the high 10 in complete yards (together with No. 1 ranks in 2019 and 2021) and 4 within the high 10 in factors.
After orchestrating some high passing offenses with the Cowboys, Moore turned a flexible play-caller in 2024 with the Eagles, constructing the offense round probably Related Press Offensive Participant of the Yr operating again Saquon Barkley.
3. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver
Miami was one in every of two groups to rank within the high 10 towards the run and go in 2024, the opposite being the Eagles (14-3). New Orleans has had wonderful defenses lately, however the franchise took a pointy downward flip in 2024, rating thirtieth in complete protection and nineteenth in factors allowed. Weaver could be a wonderful selection for the Saints to rediscover their defensive magic.
2. Payments offensive coordinator Joe Brady
Brady’s first NFL teaching job was as an offensive analyst for the Saints (2017-18), however he turned a family identify to NFL entrance places of work due to his work 80 miles northwest in Baton Rouge at LSU in 2019 when he was the passing sport coordinator and vast receivers coach through the Tigers’ 15-0 nationwide championship season. In his first full season as Payments offensive coordinator, Buffalo ranked tenth in yards and second in factors.
1. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
Glenn adopted Lions head coach Dan Campbell to Detroit in 2021 after each had been on Sean Payton’s 2020 Saints teaching workers. If employed, Glenn may deliver others with connections to the Saints to steer the offense.
Lions assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett and quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell might be choices at offensive coordinator, and each frolicked with the Saints as gamers. Brunell served as Drew Brees’ backup for 2 seasons, together with the crew’s 2009 Tremendous Bowl-winning season. Barrett, a former Ohio State quarterback, signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and performed in three preseason video games.
Detroit has ranked within the high 5 towards the run previously two seasons. Glenn would revitalize New Orleans’ moribund rush protection whereas doubtlessly bringing the identical offensive philosophies which have made the Lions a juggernaut.
