Report: Saints Coaches Targeted by Sean Payton, Broncos

Could the Saints lose more coaches to former HC Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos? Reports indicate that several are being targeted.

The restaffing of the New Orleans Saints coaching staff looks like it could continue. This time through no fault of their own. Former Saints and new Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is eyeing up some current and former New Orleans coaches to fill out his new Denver staff, according to a report. 

On Monday, Payton and the Broncos hired Saints assistant offensive line coach Zach Strief as their new offensive line coach. Jeff Duncan of Nola.com reports that Payton is targeting three more of his former New Orleans assistants. 

• Ronald Curry 

• Declan Doyle 

• Kevin Petry

New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry before the game against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Curry, a hot name among up-and-coming coaches, will be interviewed for Denver's offensive coordinator position on Tuesday. The 43-year-old Curry has been with New Orleans for five seasons. He was the WR coach from 2018 to 2020 before being promoted to QB coach and Passing Game Coordinator for the last two years. Curry was the offensive coordinator for the National Team at last weekend's Senior Bowl. 

Doyle coached the tight ends for the American Team at the Senior Bowl. He has been an offensive assistant with the Saints for four years and is reportedly being looked at to coach the Broncos tight ends.

Petry has been with New Orleans for six years from 2017. He's been a member of the team’s football operations staff and took on added duties as an offensive assistant for the last three seasons. 

New Orleans ranked 19th in total offense and 24th in points scored in 2022. Despite this, they announced that offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael would be returning and that they planned no major changes to the offensive coaching staff. This was before Strief was hired by the Broncos. 

Some reports have also linked Payton and the Broncos to former Saints assistants Kris Richard and Dan Roushar. Richard was the co-defensive coordinator with Ryan Nielsen last season after coming to the team as the defensive backs coach in 2021. Roushar was with the team for 10 years serving in capacities like RB coach, TE coach, offensive line assistant, and Running Game coordinator. The Saints parted ways with both coaches this offseason. 

In addition to Strief, the Saints also lost co-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. They've hired Joe Woods as the new defensive coordinator and Todd Grantham as a defensive assistant, but have made no additions to their offensive staff.