Da Boot Sports
2/21/2025
Article Courtesy of Crescent City Sports
By: Ken Trahan


   Both moves seemed inevitable.
   From the moment Kellen Moore was expected to take the head coaching position with the New Orleans Saints, all indicators pointed to Doug Nussmeier as his offensive coordinator and Brandon Staley as his defensive coordinator.
   Both of those hires are happening.
   While not yet officially announced by the organization, Nussmeier is on board.
   Similarly, Staley is now also on board per NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
   The 42-year old Staley, who served as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers for three years, reunites with Moore. This time, the roles are reversed: Moore served as offensive coordinator under Staley in Los Angeles in 2023.
   Staley guided the Chargers to a pair of winning seasons and one playoff appearance, but struggled a bit in Year 3, finishing 5-9. He was dismissed in-season after a 63-21 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders.
   Moore quickly moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles, which turned out to be the best move of his career, leading to a Super Bowl victory.
   Staley spent this past season as assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, gaining valuable experience under Kyle Shanahan.
   With 20 years of coaching experience, including the last nine in the NFL, Staley’s resume also includes serving as defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach with the Chicago Bears (2017-18), outside linebackers coach with the Denver Broncos (2019), and defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams (2020).
   In New Orleans, Staley will serve as the Saints’ third defensive coordinator in the NFL. His experience is clearly a positive.
   In Denver, Staley worked alongside Vic Fangio, an outstanding defensive mind who recently coordinated a Super Bowl-winning defense with the Philadelphia Eagles.
   With the Rams, Staley coordinated a defense that finished first in both points allowed and total yards allowed.
   As a head coach, Staley posted a 24-24 record.
   In New Orleans, Staley inherits a defense with mixed results. The Saints ranked in the middle of the pack in most defensive categories, though they were in the lower half of the league in some others.
   Stopping the run was an issue, and health and roster changes in the secondary were also factors.
   Another challenge is managing aging stars like Cam Jordan, Demario Davis, and Tyrann Mathieu.
   Questions remain surrounding Paulson Adebo and Chase Young and whether they can be re-signed.
   Overall, Staley is a solid hire with a promising future.

Da Boot Sports
2/20/2025
Article Courtesy of CBS Sports
By: Jordan Dajani


   The New Orleans Saints have reportedly landed on a new offensive coordinator, as Kellen Moore is bringing over former Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier to be his top offensive assistant, per NFL Media.

   Nussmeier spent just one year as Jalen Hurts' quarterbacks coach. In his Super Bowl campaign, Hurts completed a career-high 68.7% of his passes, threw just five interceptions and ended the season on a 14-game winning streak in games which he both started and finished. Philly's offense finished the regular season ranked No. 8 in yards per game (367.2) and No. 7 in points per game (27.2). 

  Nussmeier has followed Moore three times now. Before his stint with the Eagles, Nussmeier spent one season as Justin Herbert's quarterbacks coach with the Los Angeles Chargers. Previously, he served as the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2018-19, and their quarterbacks coach from 2020-22. Nussmeier has also worked as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Fresno State, Washington, Alabama, Michigan and Florida. 

   Nussmeier was actually a fourth-round draft selection of the Saints' in 1994, as a quarterback out of Idaho. Another interesting storyline from this hire is that Nussmeier joins his son, Garrett, in Louisiana. The LSU quarterback is a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2025 after he threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with the Tigers last year.
​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
2/20/2025
Article Courtesy of Crescent City Sports
By: Ken Trahan


​   It simply makes good sense.
   
​   The thought all along was that Doug Nussmeier would follow Kellen Moore to New Orleans to rejoin the New Orleans Saints organization. We speculated on this development prior to the Super Bowl.

   Every coach wants to be surrounded with familiar faces, familiar voices and the confidence that the familiarity will lead to ultimate success.

   Like Moore being a first-time head coach, Nussmeier is a first-time NFL offensive coordinator.

   Any first is going to be questioned.

   Any first provides uncertainty.

   Experienced, proven commodities can be valuable but are no guarantee for success.


   Moore, as detailed previously, is prepared and qualified for the elevation.

   So is Nussmeier.

   Like Moore, Nussmeier played the most detailed, analytical position in football as a reserve quarterback. Nussmeier had a significant amount of time to observe and analyze which was the beginning of honing skills to become a coach.

   Nussmeier has been in coaching for a quarter of a century, having began his journey in 2001 with the British Columbia Lions of the CFL.

   Nussmeier coached with many top college football programs in the country, including Alabama, with Nick Saban, along with Washington, Florida and Michigan, serving as offensive coordinator at each school. Nussmeier also worked at Michigan State and Fresno State.

   In 2018, Nussmeier began his NFL coaching career with the Dallas Cowboys as tight ends coach. Nussmeier took over as quarterbacks coach in Dallas in 2020, working with Dak Prescott as he continued to ascend as a player while Moore was the offensive coordinator.

   The relationship blossomed.


   After serving in that capacity in three years, Nussmeier went with Moore to the Los Angeles Chargers in the same capacity, once again, going with Moore, who was hired as offensive coordinator and fully endorsed him for the position in Los Angeles.

   Nussmeier worked with a promising talent in Justin Herbert in his continued development.

   Then came the big move.

   Moore was hired as offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles.

   Once again, Moore brought along a friend, whom he endorsed. Nussmeier served as quarterbacks coach of the Eagles, presiding over a quarterback in Jalen Hurts who clearly improved as the offense blossomed under Moore.

   Now, Nussmeier returns home, where it all started for him professionally.

   Nussmeier was a fourth-round pick (No. 116) out of Idaho.

   He spent four years with the Saints, the first three under Jim Mora and Rick Venturi briefly and the final year under Mike Ditka.

   Nussmeier played in just five games, getting one start each in 1996 and 1997.


   While here, Nussmeier met his wife, Christi, who was a Saintsations dancer. Christi is a native of Lake Charles who attended Barbe and McNeese.

   The couple have three children, including a pair of talented quarterbacks in Garrett, the starter at LSU and Colton, who is a prized sophomore recruit at Marcus High in Flower Mound, Texas with a host of big college offers already.

   Now, mom and dad will be close to the eldest son.

   Perhaps the youngest son will now consider following his older brother to Baton Rouge.

   A Louisiana consolidation would be special and would benefit all.

   The consolidation remains with Moore and Nussmeier.

   Moore’s primary offensive staff positions have been filled.

   Joel Thomas returns to the Saints after one year with the New York Giants to serve as running backs coach.

   Scott Tolzien comes to New Orleans from Dallas, where he served with Moore as quarterbacks coach, to take the same position with the Saints.

   TJ Paganetti comes with Moore from Philadelphia to serve as an offensive assistant coach.


   Tight ends coach Chase Haslett, the son of former New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Haslett, comes to the Saints from Dallas, where he worked with Moore.
   Brendan Nugent is the new offensive line coach for Moore. Nugent worked with Moore with the Chargers in 2023. As is the case with Thomas, it is Nugent’s second stint coaching with the Saints, where he served under Sean Payton from 2015-21.

   The other offensive coach is wide receivers coach Keith Williams, who remains from the staff of Dennis Allen and Darren Rizzi. Williams previously coached at Tulane.

   While Moore will call the plays, Nussmeier will most certainly play a key role in game plans and schemes and with his input.

   There are other hires to be made on the defensive side of the ball.

   The ties that bind are clear with those who have worked with Moore and those who have worked with the Saints previously.

   The familiarity is there.

   The experience is there.

   The qualifications are clear.

​   Now, the proving ground begins as the senior version of “The Nuss Bus” arrives in New Orleans while the junior version continues to elevate the Tigers as well as his draft status.

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
2/11/2025
Article Courtesy of Crescent City Sports
By: CCS Staff


   The New Orleans Saints announced Tuesday that they have agreed with Kellen Moore to become the 19th head coach in franchise history.
   Moore, a 13-year NFL veteran, played quarterback for six seasons (2012-17) and entered the coaching ranks in 2018, serving as an offensive coordinator for the past six campaigns. Moore comes to New Orleans after serving as offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.

   “At the start of the interview process, it was important to find a head coach who was the right fit for the New Orleans Saints organization,” said Owner Gayle Benson. “Through the search process, it became clear that Kellen is the right person to help us re-establish a winning program and culture that our fans are accustomed to and have come to expect. I would also like to thank Darren Rizzi for his service as interim coach and leading our team this past season. I am truly grateful to him.

   “I would like to welcome Kellen Moore and his family to New Orleans,” said Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. “He is an outstanding communicator with the ability to lead people and has a clear vision for this football team. Through this head coaching search, we had the opportunity to meet with several impressive candidates and I thank them for their hard work and preparation in this process.”

   “I am excited to join the New Orleans Saints and deeply appreciate the faith that Mrs. Benson and the entire Saints organization have placed in me,” Moore said. “I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead and am eager to get started. I would also like to thank the Philadelphia Eagles for an incredible 2024 season. I’m excited to begin this new chapter.”

   In 2024, Moore was a key piece of a coaching staff that led the Eagles to a 14-3 record, which tied a franchise mark for regular season victories, an NFC East Division title and the conference’s No. 2 playoff seed and culminated with a Super Bowl LIX championship at the Caesars Super Dome.