Saints add Zach Strief as Assistant Offensive Line Coach

The New Orleans Saints hire one of its former greats to their coaching staff.

On Friday, the New Orleans Saints announced that they hired former offensive tackle and current play-by-play announcer Zach Strief to their coaching staff. Strief will serve as an assistant offensive line coach for Sean Payton, the coach that drafted him with a 7th-round selection out of Northwestern in 2006.

Strief played all 12 of his NFL seasons with the Saints and was a reserve offensive tackle for their Super Bowl XLIV championship team. He became the starting right tackle in 2011 and helped protect QB Drew Brees on his way to breaking the NFL single-season passing yardage record.

Aug 26, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Saints running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs behind tackle Zach Strief (64) and guard Larry Warford (67) against Houston Texans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

Strief started 85 games over the next six seasons at right tackle as part of one of the league's best offensive lines. He appeared in 168 games in his twelve-year career, starting 98 contests.

Injuries limited him to only two games in 2017, and he was replaced by 1st round choice Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle. He retired after that season but remained very involved with the Saints. Strief moved into the broadcast booth, where he replaced the retired Jim Henderson as the team's play-by-play radio announcer.

There is no announcement about who will replace Strief in the broadcast booth.