The offseason has officially started for the New Orleans Saints and the first order of business is finding a head coach. After firing Dennis Allen at the midway point of the season, the Saints find themselves in the same spot they were in three years ago when Sean Payton retired. The hope is that this hire goes much better than the one in 2022.
As the franchise starts this coaching search, there are a few names that everyone expects to be candidates. Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has been a frequent name brought up, and so has Darren Rizzi, who served as the team’s interim head coach following the decision to fire Allen.
One name that no one has brought up is David Shaw. However, with New Orleans starting its process, it’s being reported that the team plans to interview Shaw.
Saints will interview David Shaw for open head coach position
NFL Network reporter Jane Slater shared this news on Monday, highlighting Shaw’s connection to New Orleans. Currently, he’s serving as a senior personnel executive for the Denver Broncos. Of course, that’s where Sean Payton, and a few other former Saints staff members are now.
Shaw’s most notable role was being the head coach of Stanford from 2011 to 2022. During that time, he had a 96-54 record, winning the Pac-12 three times, and being named Pac-12 Coach of the Year four times. He also coached players like Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey.
He isn’t new to the NFL, though. While he has spent the most of his coaching career at the college level, he spent nine years in the league from 1997 to 2005. He held various offensive roles with the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens.
After a year back in the NFL level in an executive role, he’s now on New Orleans’ radar. It’ll be interesting to see if he advances through the Saints’ coaching search.