The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl brings together top draft-eligible talent and some of the brightest coaching minds for college football’s most prestigious all-star event.
Held in Mobile, Ala., this historic showcase serves as the first key step in the NFL Draft process, giving prospects a stage to impress more than 900 NFL personnel and over 1,100 members of the national media. The Senior Bowl’s “Coach Up” initiative also allows NFL assistants to take on elevated roles while guiding the next generation of players, which is an opportunity embraced by staffers from 14 different franchises this year.
Senior Bowl: American Team Coaching Staff
The game will be played Saturday, Jan. 31, at 1:30 p.m. CT inside South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium, with the coaching staffs for the American and National teams officially announced.
New Orleans Saints associate head coach and running backs coach Joel Thomas will serve as the American Team head coach, and his staff is finally set.
All three coordinator roles will be filled by Saints assistants, with quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien handling offensive coordinator duties, linebackers coach Peter Sirmon serving as defensive coordinator, and assistant special teams coach Kyle Wilber overseeing special teams.
Additional Saints staff members involved include assistant defensive backs coach Robert “RJ” Blanton, college scouting coordinator Ziad Qubti, and assistant to the head coach Mike Martinez, totaling seven New Orleans representatives on the American Team.
The New York Jets are sending assistants Junior Taylor (WR) and Brian Natkin (OL), while the Indianapolis Colts will be represented by Diego Ortiz (RB) and Chris Watt (OL).
Detroit Lions offensive assistant Marques Tuiasosopo is set to mentor the quarterbacks, with Garrett Nussmeier, son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, slated as the American Team’s top signal-caller. New Orleans’ NFC South rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will also have multiple staff members on the American side with Rashad Johnson (DB) and Jeff Kastl (TE).
Defensive line responsibilities go to Cleveland’s Adam Morris and Minnesota’s Patrick Hill, and linebacker duties belong to Kansas City’s Chris Orr.
Senior Bowl: National Team Coaching Staff
Philadelphia Eagles defensive line coach Clint Hurtt takes the helm for the National Team, with Dallas Cowboys secondary/cornerbacks coach David Overstreet serving as defensive coordinator, Eagles assistant head coach and running backs coach Jemal Singleton as offensive coordinator, and Arizona Cardinals assistant special teams coach Sam Sewel taking over special teams.
The NFC East will be represented by Dallas’ defensive assistant Tanzel Smart (DL) and assistant defensive line coach Bryan Bing (DL), alongside Washington Commanders assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton (OL) and assistant defensive backs coach William Gay (DBs), have all been added to the staff.
Eagles assistant to the head coach Cole Peterson and football operations coordinator Molly Rottinghaus are set to be involved in the week’s proceedings as well.
National quarterbacks will operate under the tutelage of Minnesota Vikings game management coordinator and passing game specialist Ryan Cordell, while running backs look to Cardinals’ Bill Bidwill Fellow D.J. Gillins. The National Team staff also features Tampa Bay’s Joey Fitzgerald (TEs), Kansas City’s Danny Williams (WRs), Cincinnati’s Michael McCarthy (OL), Indianapolis’ Cato June (LBs), and Green Bay’s Jamael Lett (DBs).
NFL Draft By the Numbers
In 2025, 106 Senior Bowl players were taken in the NFL Draft, with all 32 franchises choosing at least one attendee. Ninety-nine percent of the 2025 Senior Bowl roster was drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent.
