We’re all waiting for the assumption that Kellen Moore will be the New Orleans Saints head coach to become a reality. If it does become reality, The Athletic’s Michael Silver expects Moore to have “strong interest in former Chargers coach Brandon Staley as his defensive coordinator.” That sentiment has been shared by reporters at other outlets, including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter.
There’s a direct connection between Moore and Staley. Moore’s lone year with the Los Angeles Chargers was Staley’s last season. Clearly things didn’t work out the last time Staley and Moore paired up, with Staley being fired after Week 15.
If Moore and Staley reunite with the Saints, it would be a role reversal for the duo. For the Saints’ sake, they’ll have to hope Moore overseeing the team and having Staley’s isolate his focus on the defense is a greater recipe for success.
Staley wasn’t highly successful, but having a former head coach on your coaching staff can still be valuable for a young coach in the same position. It gives him a voice to lean on in different moments. And like we’ve seen with Steve Spagnuolo and Dennis Allen, Staley may have been at his best working as a defensive coordinator rather than a head coach himself. The extra time and attention he can spend working on his side of the ball makes a difference.