The New Orleans Saints have been in a bit of a coaching carousel ever since Sean Payton stepped away. The search for stability has taken them through a handful of experiments, including a rocky stint with Dennis Allen, whose 7-10 debut season didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
But there’s been a recent glimmer of hope. Kellen Moore, brought in to spark the offense, showed some real promise down the stretch.
Still, the Saints' coaching journey over the past few seasons has been as much about finding the right supporting cast as it has been about landing the right head coach.
One of those former staff members, Kris Richard, is now back in the spotlight. Richard, who once served as co-defensive coordinator in New Orleans with a focus on the secondary, is reportedly in the running for a new opportunity - this time at the college level. According to CBS Sports insider Matt Zenitz, Richard is being targeted for the defensive coordinator position at Stanford.
For Richard, this could be a significant step. He’s no stranger to the NFL grind, having carved out a coaching path that began in 2010 with the Seattle Seahawks as an assistant defensive backs coach.
From there, he worked his way up the ladder, gaining a reputation as a sharp secondary mind, particularly during the Legion of Boom era. His time in New Orleans may not have ended with fireworks, but his résumé still carries weight - and his experience could be a major asset for a Stanford program looking to reestablish its identity on defense.
While there’s no direct connection between Richard and Stanford - and no personal ties to Andrew Luck, who remains a key figure in the Cardinal’s football lore - there is a California connection. Richard was born and raised in the state, played his college ball at USC, and even returned there as a graduate assistant in 2008 and 2009. That West Coast familiarity could make for a natural fit.
Interestingly enough, there is one small brush with Luck in Richard’s coaching past. Back in Week 5 of the 2013 NFL season, Richard was coaching the Seahawks’ secondary when Luck and the Colts pulled off a 34-28 win.
Luck threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns that day, including a 73-yard strike to T.Y. Hilton - a highlight that still lives in Colts lore.
If Richard does land the Stanford job, it would mark a return to the college ranks for a coach who’s spent most of his career in the pros. And for Stanford, it would mean bringing in someone with a deep NFL pedigree and a track record of developing top-tier defensive backs. As the Cardinal look to rebuild and redefine their defensive identity, a coach like Richard could be exactly the kind of steady, experienced presence they need.