The New Orleans Saints are set to make a major imprint on this year’s Senior Bowl, with a strong contingent of their coaching staff taking on leading roles in the annual pre-draft showcase.
Running backs coach Joel Thomas will be the head coach of the American team, giving him a front-row seat to work with some of the top college prospects in the country. It’s a significant opportunity - not just for Thomas, but for the entire Saints staff that will be joining him in Mobile, Alabama, for the week-long event.
Quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien will take on offensive coordinator duties, linebackers coach Peter Sirmon will run the defense, and special teams assistant Kyle Wilber will coordinate the third phase of the game. That’s a sizable chunk of the Saints’ coaching core involved in a hands-on evaluation setting, and it speaks volumes about the trust the league and the Senior Bowl organizers have in New Orleans’ staff.
Over on the other sideline, Philadelphia Eagles defensive line coach Clint Hurtt will lead the National team. But all eyes in the Crescent City will be on the Saints’ crew, especially Thomas, who’s no stranger to the Senior Bowl spotlight.
“I’m honored to be chosen as the American Team head coach for the 2026 Senior Bowl,” Thomas said in a statement. “This is the elite college football all-star game that has featured some of the top players in the sport as they look to take that next step in their careers.”
He’s right - the Senior Bowl has long been a proving ground for future NFL talent. From Day 1 starters to late-round gems, this is where players can elevate their draft stock in real time, under the watchful eyes of general managers, scouts, and coaches from across the league.
Thomas’ familiarity with the event only adds to the intrigue. He served as the American Team’s offensive coordinator last year, and now he’s running the whole operation. That kind of continuity and experience can be huge, especially when you're trying to maximize a week of practices and meetings with dozens of players looking to make an impression.
What makes the Senior Bowl unique is the access - not just for NFL evaluators, but for the coaches involved. It’s one thing to watch tape or conduct interviews at the Combine.
It’s another to spend a week in the trenches with these prospects, coaching them through real reps, real schemes, and real adjustments. For the Saints’ staff, it’s a rare chance to get an extended, up-close look at players who could end up in their building come draft weekend.
And for the players, it’s an even rarer opportunity. As Thomas noted, the Senior Bowl gives prospects from schools of all sizes a level playing field. Whether you’re from the SEC or a small FCS program, you get to line up and compete - and you get to do it in front of NFL coaches who are actively game-planning with you.
The 2026 Senior Bowl kicks off January 31 in Mobile, Alabama, but the real action starts days before, during three intense practices that often carry more weight with scouts than the game itself. That’s where technique, effort, and coachability stand out. That’s where the Saints’ staff will be watching closely - and making notes that could shape their draft board.
All four Saints coaches - Thomas, Tolzien, Sirmon, and Wilber - joined the team last year under new head coach Kellen Moore. Now, they’ll get a chance to showcase their teaching chops on a national stage, while also evaluating talent that could help shape the next phase of the Saints’ rebuild.
For a franchise looking to reload and retool, this kind of involvement at the Senior Bowl isn’t just an honor - it’s a strategic advantage.