The New Orleans Saints may be staring down a significant shake-up on the offensive side of the ball - and not because they’re looking to make changes. According to multiple reports, the Pittsburgh Steelers are interviewing Saints quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien for their offensive coordinator job. And because it’s a promotion, the Saints can’t stand in the way.
For Pittsburgh, Tolzien checks a lot of boxes. He’s coming off a year where he helped guide a young, unproven quarterback room through a surprisingly productive season.
That kind of résumé is exactly what the Steelers need as they prepare for life after Aaron Rodgers, especially with Mike McCarthy now in place as head coach. Even if McCarthy retains play-calling duties, Tolzien would still see a significant bump in responsibility - and in title - which could be a key step in his coaching trajectory.
But for the Saints, this potential departure is more than just a staffing note. It could disrupt the development arc of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, who showed real promise in his first year under Tolzien’s guidance.
When the Saints opted not to bring in a veteran quarterback last offseason, it raised eyebrows. Instead, they doubled down on a coaching staff full of former QBs, trusting that experience would be enough to accelerate the learning curve for their young signal-callers.
And to their credit, it worked. While Spencer Rattler didn’t pan out as hoped, he still made strides.
Shough, meanwhile, exceeded expectations and looked far more comfortable than most rookies thrown into the fire. That kind of progress doesn’t happen without a strong support system - and Tolzien was a big part of that.
Now, the Saints could be forced to pivot. Head coach Kellen Moore and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier are still in place, which gives some continuity.
But Moore has said it himself: the first full offseason is critical for a young quarterback’s growth. Shough hasn’t even played a full season’s worth of games yet.
Stability around him could be the difference between a sophomore leap and a sophomore slump.
The Steelers are also reportedly eyeing another Saints assistant - Jahri Evans, currently the assistant offensive line coach. If Pittsburgh wants to lure him away, they’d likely offer him a full offensive line coach position, another title bump that New Orleans couldn’t block.
Losing both Tolzien and Evans would be a tough blow for a Saints staff that leaned heavily on its coaching chemistry to bring along a young offense. For now, the front office isn’t expecting major changes. But if Pittsburgh makes the right offer, New Orleans might not have a choice.
This offseason could end up being as much about who stays as who goes. And for a team banking on internal development - especially at quarterback - keeping the right voices in the room might be just as important as any free agent signing.