Like many coordinators who get head coaching opportunities, Kellen Moore is bringing multiple members of his staff in Philadelphia to his new job in New Orleans.
The Saints “are currently working to finalize a deal” to make Doug Nussmeier their next offensive coordinator, per veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson. Nussmeier spent 2024 as the Eagles’ quarterbacks coach and is considered the frontrunner for the job position in New Orleans. He previously coached quarterbacks for the Chargers and the Cowboys. Nussmeier also served as offensive coordinator for several major college programs from 2008 to 2017, including Alabama, Florida, and Michigan.
Nussmeier isn’t the only top Eagles assistant following Moore to New Orleans. The Saints are also hiring Eagles run game specialist and assistant offensive line coach T.J. Paganetti, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. He has spent the last eight seasons in Philadelphia, working closely with legendary Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Paganetti will likely take over as the Saints’ offensive line coach after John Benton followed Klint Kubiak to Seattle.
Moore is hiring another familiar face to serve as quarterbacks coach in Scott Tolzien, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Tolzien was an assistant in Dallas when Moore was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022. Tolzien was promoted to quarterbacks coach after Moore moved on in 2023, but was not expected to be retained on Brian Schottenheimer‘s new staff.
Tolzien, a former NFL quarterback himself, will help the Saints navigate an uncertain quarterback situation this year. Derek Carr performed well in 2024, but struggled to stay healthy. His durability will remain a concern entering his age-34 season – if he even stays on the roster – but neither Spencer Rattler nor Jake Haener inspired much confidence in 2024. The Saints’ cap situation will hinder them in the free agent quarterback market, and the draft’s top quarterbacks will likely go before their first round pick (No. 9 overall).
Saints hired Brendan Nugent as OL coach so Paganetti will not be in that role specifically.
the worst thing about winning the Superbowl or just being pretty good is that you’re coaching staff is picked through like the dollar bin at most stores.
Even after losing the Super Bowl, Kyle Shannahan has had his assistants’ assistants get poached from his coaching staff.
Heck, other teams have even just about ran the 49ers cupboard dry taking their front office personnel as well.
I don’t think any other teams have had their coaches/front office personnel picked apart like the Rams have under Sean McVay and the 49ers have under Kyle Shannahan.
What is even more insane is the coaching tree of Kyle’s dad Mike Shannahan, and his current influence and impact on the NFL game today.
Between the three of Mike Shannhan, Sean McVay, and Kyle Shannahan their combined coaching trees and front office personnel has completely taken over the landscape of today’s NFL.
The 49ers, Rams, Dolphins, Packers, Jaguars, Texans, Seahawks, Titans, Commanders, Cowboys, Falcons, etc. and I’m sure I’m missing a team or two who hired front office personnel or an assistant coach from either the Rams or 49ers.
Plus, then you have to also consider Mike McDaniel, Matt LaFleur, DeMeco Ryans, etc. they are going to continue having their own assistants and coordinators hired away by other teams as well only further spreading out the Shannahan influence.
Finally, you also have to look at team’s that have basically modeled their offense to copy and emulate Mike’s west coast offense and McVay’s and Kyle’s systems.
I don’t think Mike Shannahan gets nearly enough credit for the impact and influence he has on today’s game. Both offensively and defensively you can see his impact and his coaching tree’s impact, and the fact he isn’t even acknowledged in the Hall of Fame is an absolute joke.
Forget the multiple Super Bowls he won’t as a head coach, his influence alone on the game is Hall pf Fane worthy…
Kubiak also worked under Shanahan and Stefanski is a Kubiak guy, so there’s another coach of the year.
Of course, Shanahan also worked under Seifert with Holmgren and a bunch of other Walsh guys, so his tree comingles with the Walsh tree, which is the best of all. But yeah, between Walsh, Shanahan, and Parcells, you can draw a line from a huge number of the best and most successful coaches back to them.
McVay got his first NFL opportunity under Jon Gruden in Tampa, then spent a season under Jay with an arena team, then asst TE coach in Washington under the Shanahans, then Jay Gruden made him OC in Washington at age 27. – Very fast track.
The Holmgren tree from Green Bay has Gruden, Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci, Ray Rhodes, Dick Jauron.
And as mentioned Holmgren and Shanahan both were under Walsh. Walsh coached under Paul Brown.
Get Doug now and tank for Garrett not a bad plan