The New Orleans Saints are hiring California Golden Bears defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon to come work as their new linebackers coach, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He’s another new arrival with few connections to the old Sean Payton-Dennis Allen regime, and will work as a position coach under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
Sirmon, 48, was a fourth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans back in 2000 and played for them until 2006. A former linebacker himself, he’s continued to coach that position at a number of college stops over the years — he overlapped with Terry Joseph, the Saints’ new defensive pass game coordinator, when they were both on staff with the Tennessee Volunteers in 2010 and 2011.
He’s been at Cal since 2018, though, and has worn a number of hats as an associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, while coaching both inside and outside linebackers at different times. Back in 2019 he was recognized as the college Linebackers Coach of the Year by FootballScoop. Now he’s turning pro.