One of the dangers of running a successful program is that great pieces of it can get snatched up by rival organizations. That’s the case for the New Orleans Saints, who reportedly lost linebackers coach Mike Nolan to the Dallas Cowboys. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Nolan will join new Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and serve as the team’s defensive coordinator.
It’s a big loss for New Orleans. Nolan played a huge role in developing players such as Alex Anzalone and helping bring in talented free agents like Demario Davis, A.J. Klein, and Manti Te’o. His influence as a teacher and extensive coaching experience played a huge part in New Orleans’ defensive turnaround in recent years.
Where the Saints go from here in finding a replacement is anyone’s guess. They did not have an assistant linebackers coach on staff this year, though pass-rush specialist Brian Young could theoretically offer a fresh perspective. Based off Nolan’s specialties and the education-focused nature of similar hires (like defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen and defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn), the Saints could look for another ex-player or respected college coach to step into Sean Payton’s staff.
