Report: Saints to Interview Dan Pitcher for Offensive Coordinator Position

Saints interview the first of many expected candidates for their offensive coordinator role, per report.

Nick Underhill of neworleans.football reports that the New Orleans Saints are interviewing Dan Pitcher for their vacant offensive coordinator position on Wednesday. Pitcher is currently the Quarterbacks Coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

The Saints let go of offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael on Tuesday. Carmichael had been with the New Orleans offensive staff for 18 seasons, including 15 as offensive coordinator. Wide Receiver coach Kodi Burns and senior offensive assistant Bob Bicknell were also relieved of their duties. 

Pitcher, 37, has been an offensive assistant with Cincinnati since 2016. He had previously worked in the scouting department for the Indianapolis Colts for four years. When Zac Taylor was hired as the Bengals head coach in 2019, Pitcher was promoted from WR coach to QB coach. It's a role he's held since under Cincinnati offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. 

Led by QB Joe Burrow and offensive stars like WRs Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and RB Joe Mixon, the Bengals had one of the NFL's top offenses in 2021 and 2022. Burrow missed the final seven games of this season with a wrist injury. Cincinnati's receiving corps was also battered by injuries most of the year. 

Despite the injury woes, the Bengals still had a productive offense down the stretch. Pitcher helped oversee the rapid development of QB Jake Browning, who took over for Burrow in those seven contests. 

Nov 20, 2022; Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher gestures on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

An undrafted quarterback in 2019 that was seeing his first NFL action, Browning helped steer the Bengals to 23.5 points per game and a 4-3 record in his seven starts. He completed 70.4% of his passes and averaged 267 passing yards per outing with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in those starts.

The Saints ranked ninth in points scored (23.6/game) and 14th in total offense in 2023. Derek Carr started all 17 games at quarterback, completing 68.4% of his throws for 3,878 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. New Orleans also returns dynamic offensive playmakers like RB Alvin Kamara and WRs Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. 

Pitcher is the first of many that the Saints expect to interview for the offensive coordinator spot. A decision on that position, along with the other coaching vacancies, may still be weeks away.