The New Orleans Saints have shown signs of life in recent weeks, but let’s not sugarcoat it - there’s still a long road ahead. While the team is clawing to stay relevant in the playoff picture, the bigger story might be what’s looming just beyond the horizon.
The 2026 offseason is shaping up to be a pivotal one, not just for the roster, but for the coaching staff as well. Several assistant coaches are under the microscope, and the final stretch of the season could determine who sticks around and who’s looking for a new gig.
Head coach Kellen Moore walked into a tough situation last offseason. Because he was coaching deep into February - all the way to the Super Bowl - Moore got a late jump on assembling his staff.
That delay meant he missed out on some key hires, including offensive line coach Klayton Adams, who ended up in Dallas as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. Moore had to pivot quickly, leaning on familiar faces and organizational holdovers.
But 2026 will be different. With a full offseason at his disposal and the usual league-wide coaching carousel spinning, Moore will have a real chance to handpick his staff - and that could mean major changes.
Here are four coaching spots to keep an eye on down the stretch:
Special Teams Coordinator: Phil Galiano
Phil Galiano stepped into the lead role after years as Darren Rizzi’s right-hand man, but the drop-off has been hard to ignore. Special teams have been a liability this season - and that’s putting it mildly. The Saints already made one change, cutting kicker Blake Grupe and bringing in Charlie Smyth, but the problems go deeper than just who’s booting the ball.
Punter Kai Kroeger ranks near the bottom of the league in both net yards per punt and punts downed inside the 20. Return coverage has been shaky, and the return game hasn’t done much to flip field position either.
The most telling stat? Opponents are starting their drives at an average of the 32.6-yard line - fourth-best in the NFL.
For context, last season, the Saints led the league by holding opponents to an average start at their own 27.2. That’s a massive swing in hidden yardage.
If Moore is planning a shakeup, this is a spot that could be near the top of the list. He’ll need someone who can restore discipline, creativity, and consistency to a unit that’s quietly cost the Saints valuable field position all year.
Offensive Line Coach: Brendan Nugent
Brendan Nugent was one of the first hires Moore made, which made sense at the time. The two worked together with the Chargers, and Nugent had ties to New Orleans from earlier in his career. But the offensive line’s performance this season has been nothing short of disastrous - even when the starters have been healthy.
This isn’t a unit lacking talent. Every starter is a top-50 draft pick.
But the cohesion just hasn’t been there, especially on the interior. Far too often, well-designed run plays have been blown up at the line of scrimmage because of missed assignments or poor execution.
That’s not just on the players - that’s a coaching issue.
The fact that Moore initially wanted Klayton Adams for the job before pivoting to Nugent tells you something. This may have been a fallback hire, and the results have reflected that. The Saints need to rebuild the foundation up front, and that starts with finding the right teacher to coach this group up.
Running Backs Coach: Joel Thomas
Joel Thomas has been with the Saints since 2015 (minus a brief absence in 2024), and he holds the title of associate head coach - a sign of how much the organization has valued his presence. But the production from his position group just hasn’t matched the title.
Over the past five seasons, the Saints’ running backs have been among the least explosive in the league. That’s not just about talent - it’s about development, usage, and the traits the team has prioritized. The current group needs a complete overhaul, and that likely includes the coaching staff.
There’s still time for players like Evan Hull and Audric Estime to change the narrative, but they’ll need to show something special in these final three games. Otherwise, this could be another spot where Moore looks to bring in a fresh voice with a new vision for how the Saints want to run the football.
Wide Receivers Coach: Keith Williams
Keith Williams is another holdover from Dennis Allen’s staff, and while the top of the receiver depth chart has held its own, the development of younger players has been lacking. Mason Tipton has seen limited action - just 12 targets in 13 games - and has turned them into seven catches for 47 yards and two first downs.
Kevin Austin Jr. is getting snaps again, but he’s only managed three receptions in five games. Dante Pettis remains mostly a special teams contributor with a single 14-yard catch all season.
These aren’t players expected to light up the stat sheet, but the Saints need depth at the position - and that depth hasn’t been developing. That falls on coaching.
The bottom of the roster should be a place where you find hidden gems, not dead weight. If the Saints want to build a deeper, more dynamic receiving corps, it might be time to bring in a coach who can get more out of the young talent on hand.
Bottom line: Kellen Moore will have his fingerprints all over the 2026 Saints, and that starts with the staff he surrounds himself with. The final few weeks of the season could serve as a proving ground for several assistants, but if things don’t improve, expect Moore to make some tough - and necessary - calls in the offseason.