Report: Dan Campbell may soon be named Saints assistant head coach
Dan Campbell was interviewing in New Orleans on Tuesday, and according to reports, he may soon be hired as the Saints assistant head coach and tight ends coach.
In a very likely scenario after the team’s third 7-9 season in four years, the New Orleans Saints could be looking to retool their coaching staff.
Quarterbacks coach Mike Neu just left New Orleans for the head coaching job at Ball State and secondary coach Wesley McGriff just recently joined Auburn as a defensive assistant.
In the latest of reports, the Saints are showing strong interest in former Miami Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell, who took over in South Florida after Joe Philbin was fired in early October.
Ex- @MiamiDolphins interim HC Dan Campbell interviewed Tues with @Saints. Source tells @NFLonFOX he may soon be hired as asst HC/TEs coach
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 13, 2016
Campbell? Interview went really well. Not quite yet a done deal, I’m told. https://t.co/Nmha5xIWlq
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) January 13, 2016
Dan Campbell is no stranger to Saints head coach Sean Payton. He began his career with the New York Giants in 1999, where Payton coached quarterbacks Campbell’s rookie year and then was his offensive coordinator until 2002. Payton left to join the Dallas Cowboys as their assistant head coach/quarterbacks in 2003 — Campbell would follow him and play under him until 2005.
The two reunited in 2009 after the Saints signed Campbell as a free agent. However, he spent the entire season on injured reserve after suffering a brutal knee injury at training camp. He still received a Super Bowl ring following New Orleans’ historic championship run and retired at the end of the year. The following season, he was hired as a coaching intern in Miami, taking over as tight ends coach in 2011.
With a Saints assistant head coach already in place at the moment (Joe Vitt), it will be interesting to see what happens. Vitt, who is also the linebackers coach, has been a topic of discussion when it comes to potential coaching changes in New Orleans. With talent at the linebacker position through the years, there has been very little production to match.
An additional report says that Dennis Allen is expected to officially be named the defensive coordinator. If he is given the power to pick his own staff, it will be difficult to see a scenario where Vitt remains in New Orleans.
I'm also told official naming of Dennis Allen as @Saints defensive coordinator should be done soon if not already completed. @NFLonFOX
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) January 13, 2016
Was also told that the #Saints are expected to add both Joe Lombardi and Dan Campbell to the staff next week, per source
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) January 13, 2016
Reports also have the Saints in the mix for Joe Lombardi following Mike Neu’s departure to Ball State. Lombardi was on the Saints’ staff before taking over as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator in 2014. It is making for an interesting week down on the bayou.