The coaching staff for the New Orleans Saints is quickly coming together under first-time head coach Kellen Moore. It was recently reported that New Orleans is hiring Doug Nussmeier as the team’s offensive coordinator, and on Friday, the news broke that the Saints plan to hire Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator.
Just as Nussmeier was always the favorite to land the offensive coordinator role, Staley has been considered the top option for the DC role since Moore accepted the job. Now, both moves are on their way to becoming official.
The #Saints are hiring former #Chargers coach Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator for coach Kellen Moore, per The Insiders.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2025
Staley was an assistant this year with the #49ers, and before LAC, he burst onto the scene as a #Rams DC. Now, lands in NO. pic.twitter.com/ytNtbTMdzm
Saints hiring Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator
This will be a bit of a role reversal for Moore and Staley, as Kellen Moore worked as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers when Brandon Staley was the head coach in 2023. Staley held the head coach role in Los Angeles for three seasons, leading the team to a 24-24 record.
He was ultimately fired, as everyone felt he underachieved with a talented Chargers roster. He also developed a negative reputation for his game management and decision-making skills as a head coach, and that’s why he wasn’t considered an exciting candidate by fans.
However, being a defensive coordinator is much different than being a head coach, and being a DC is where Staley made his name in the league. Prior to joining the Chargers, he was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, leading a dominant defense. After his time with the Chargers, he spent last season as an assistant head coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
Now, he’ll come to New Orleans and lead the team on the defensive side of the ball. The Saints have had a solid defense throughout recent years, and they have some talented players, but the defense unraveled last season, and was a big reason why New Orleans only won five games. Staley will look to get the unit back on track.