As the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions prepare for their Week 13 matchup, there will be plenty of players and coaches with a history with their opponent.
Led by Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, there are a number of former Saints on the Lions roster and coaching staff and vice versa. Here are all of the connections between the two teams:
Lions HC Dan Campbell
Campbell was in New Orleans from 2016-2020 as Assistant head coach and tight ends coach.
Lions QB coaches Mark Brunell and J.T. Barrett
Both the QB coach Mark Brunell and his assistant J.T. Barrett played in New Orleans. Brunell served as Drew Brees’ backup from 2008-2009, including the Super Bowl victory. Barrett bounced around the Saints practice squad between 2018-2019.
Lions DC Aaron Glenn
Glenn both played and coached in New Orleans. He was a member of the 2008 team as a defensive back. He came back to coach defensive backs from 2016-2020.
Lions LB Alex Anzalone
Anzalone was drafted by the Saints in Round 3 of the 2017 NFL draft out of Florida. He played with the Saints until 2020 before signing with the Lions in 2021.
Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater
Now the current Lions backup, Bridgewater was traded to the Saints along with a sixth-round draft pick in exchange for a future third-round selection. Bridgewater was with the Saints for two years before moving on to the Carolina Panthers.
Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Drafted in the fourth round in 2019, Gardner-Johnson was with the Saints for three seasons. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles where he spent one season before signing a one-year deal with the Lions this offseason. He suffered a torn pectoral muscle at the beginning of the season and hasn’t returned.
Saints QB coach Ronald Curry
Curry signed a contract as a player with the Lions in the 2009 offseason, but was traded before the season started.
Saints DB coach Marcus Robertson
Robertson was a secondary coach for the Lions from 2012-2013.
Saints RB Jamaal Williams
Williams was a Lion from 2021-2022 where he set the franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 17 in 2022.
