The defensive staff is beginning to take shape.
Last week, the New Orleans Saints hired Brandon Staley as their next defensive coordinator and now the team can focus on filling out the rest of the defensive staff before the NFL Combine. Today, per Tom Pelissero, the Saints have hired Texas assistant head coach/defensive pass game coordinator Terry Joseph to become their next defensive pass game coordinator.
Longtime college assistant Terry Joseph is leaving Texas to be the #Saints’ defensive pass game coordinator, per source.
Joseph — cousin of #Broncos DC Vance Joseph — recruited and coached Kyle Hamilton and 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron. Now, a big move to the NFL. pic.twitter.com/kLNb96sojx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 24, 2025
Joseph has coached since 1999 and wherever he has gone, the defensive back group has success. The Saints have talent in their DB room, and Joseph could be the perfect hire to develop some of these younger players.
Another interesting aspect of this hire is that the Saints made a concerted effort to interview defensive coaches from college, per Ian Rapoport.
The #Saints had sought a defensive coach with college experience and influence. Now, Terry Joseph lands in New Orleans. https://t.co/Dh2bOTA2f6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2025
This could be because the Saints know they are going into an era of youth on defense, and getting a college coach that deals with younger players on the daily could be a good idea. This should not take away from Joseph’s talent as a coach, and if the Kellen Moore wants his defense to play hard, Joseph will get the defensive backs to do just that.