Brandon Staley’s name is floating around as a top contender for the Saints’ defensive coordinator position, and fans are in splits. But here’s the kicker: two of his former players, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, might’ve just set him up for this moment.
The legendary duo had Staley’s back during his time with the Los Angeles Rams, and now, those connections are making waves with the New Orleans Saints.
Saints Set To Interview Brandon Staley and Doug Nussmeier as They Build Staff Under Kellen Moore
The Saints are shaking things up as they look to fill key spots on their staff. The team has multiple interviews lined up, and the buzz is real. First on the list was Brandon Staley, the former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Saints met with Staley for their DC vacancy on Feb. 16.
Staley isn’t alone in the hot seat. The Saints will also interview Doug Nussmeier, most recently the Philadelphia Eagles’ QB coach, for their offensive coordinator role.
Nussmeier’s history with Kellen Moore (the Saints’ new head coach) is key — these two have shared coaching duties since 2018, starting with the Dallas Cowboys before continuing with the Chargers and Eagles.
Staley and Nussmeier bring strong ties to Moore’s coaching style, and the Saints are banking on that familiarity to turn around their horrendous season. Moore’s hire signals a new chapter, and now, filling those coordinator roles is priority No. 1.
The Saints have already interviewed Daronte Jones — the Minnesota Vikings’ pass game coordinator — for the defensive coordinator role, and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports the Miami Dolphins’ Robert Prince is also in the mix for OC.
With former coordinators Klint Kubiak and Joe Woods now elsewhere (Seahawks and Raiders), it’s all hands on deck for the Saints to build a contender.
As the Saints seek to snap a four-year playoff drought, Staley, Nussmeier, and Moore are ready to team up and turn the page.
Fans React to Staley’s DC Chances: Praise, Surprise, and Skepticism
Fans are buzzing about Staley’s rise as a top candidate for the Saints’ DC position.
One fan stated, “Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey basically set this guy up for life in 2020,” pointing out how Staley benefited from having two elite defensive players at his disposal.
In 2020, Staley’s defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL, largely due to the standout play of Donald and Ramsey. The fan argues that while Staley had top-tier talent, great defensive coordinators know how to use their chess pieces, much like Spagnuolo with Chris Jones.
Another fan shared, “I expected him to be a DC again but not this soon,” expressing surprise that Staley is back in the DC game so quickly after his mixed Chargers tenure. Despite the Chargers’ defensive struggles, fans appreciated his game-time decisions, with one noting, “I actually liked a lot of his in-game decision making, they just couldn’t stop anyone.”
One more reaction addressed Staley’s time with the Chargers, stating, “The funny thing is though, the defense was the worst part of his Chargers tenure.” While his in-game coaching impressed, the inability to stop opposing offenses left lingering doubts about his defensive acumen.
Despite mixed reviews, it’s clear Staley’s journey is far from over. With his experience working with top-tier talent like Donald and Ramsey, it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares as the Saints’ next DC.