We have completed a virtual interview with Anthony Weaver for our head coach position. pic.twitter.com/BLhLubcMPq
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 8, 2025
This isn’t what we saw in the New Orleans Saints’ last head coach search, or last year’s quest for a new offensive coordinator. They’ve already interviewed two candidates with a third on the way — the team announced that they completed initial meetings with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, and they’ll speak with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn on Friday.
It’s a big shift in their approach. Last offseason, general manager Mickey Loomis and the Saints waited nine days to part ways with Pete Carmichael before looking for his replacement. Their eventual choice — Klint Kubiak — wasn’t even hired until after the Super Bowl. Which would be the case for a head coach if their choice ends up playing in the title game, but the point is they didn’t get a late start this time around.
That’s true of their 2022 search for Sean Payton’s heir, too. Payton surprised general manager Mickey Loomis by returning from a weeklong vacation after the season ended to announce he was stepping down as head coach on Jan. 25. That delayed their search and candidates like Brian Daboll were hired by other teams before they could even respond to the Saints’ request for an interview.
Again, that isn’t what we’re seeing in 2025. Loomis and the Saints are rightfully acting quickly to meet with candidates and get in the mix early on. It’s encouraging to see some urgency out of the Saints with a hard-to-avoid rebuild mounting in front of them. We’ll know soon who will be in charge of overseeing it.
We have completed a virtual interview with Mike Kafka for our head coach position. pic.twitter.com/rHgVIX0fCN
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 9, 2025