Ranking the seven known Saints head-coaching candidates

With the 2025 NFL hiring cycle in motion, the Saints (5-12) are in the thick of the search for their next head coach.

As NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reported earlier this week, “The team has about a dozen candidates they’re considering, and they plan to interview a good portion of their candidate list.”

So far, NFL media reporters have linked seven candidates to New Orleans’ opening.

Here’s our ranking of the candidates for the Saints job, from the worst to best fit.

7. Giants offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka

Kafka is an unexpected candidate, considering the Giants’ offensive woes the past two seasons. In 2023, New York was 29th in total offense and 30th in points; this season, the Giants were 30th in total offense and 31st in points.

But Kafka likely is gaining more interest from the Saints — and Bears — because of his work in Kansas City. He served as quarterbacks coach during two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes’ first two seasons as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.

New Orleans could be looking for someone to develop Spencer Rattler into a legitimate starting quarterback. He went 0-6 as a starter in 2025 but made positive strides in his last game, going 26 of 42 for 240 yards and a touchdown in a must-win game for Tampa Bay.

6. Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury

It’s incredible what one season did for Kingsbury’s reputation. In January 2023, the Cardinals fired him after a 4-13 campaign. He then served as an offensive analyst at USC last season.

Last February, he made a decision that altered his coaching trajectory. After initially agreeing to become the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, the Commanders swooped in and hired Kingsbury, setting him on a course for multiple head coaching interviews. 

Kingsbury’s turnaround has been remarkable, but how his Cardinals tenure ended still leaves a sour taste. While he might help Rattler’s development, the Saints should be worried about hiring another head coach with a proven losing track record after the Dennis Allen debacle. 

5. Browns consultant Mike Vrabel

Vrabel is a proven winner, going 54-45 in six seasons as Titans head coach. He’s the most qualified candidate on the Saints’ radar, but he might not be the right fit for a team in rebuild mode. After restructuring soon-to-be-retired offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk’s contract, New Orleans has roughly $60 million in dead money for 2025, setting the franchise up for a long season. Vrabel belongs on a team that can win immediately, something the Saints can’t offer.

4. Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore

Moore’s built an impressive resume over his six seasons as an offensive coordinator, including four seasons with the Cowboys (2019-22) and one with the Chargers (2023). Three of his offenses finished in the top 10 in total yards (including No. 1 ranks in 2019 and 2021) and four in the top 10 in points.

After orchestrating some top passing offenses with the Cowboys, Moore became a versatile play-caller in 2024 with the Eagles, building the offense around likely Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year running back Saquon Barkley.

3. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver

Miami was one of two teams to rank in the top 10 against the run and pass in 2024, the other being the Eagles (14-3). New Orleans has had excellent defenses in recent years, but the franchise took a sharp downward turn in 2024, ranking 30th in total defense and 19th in points allowed. Weaver would be an excellent choice for the Saints to rediscover their defensive magic.

2. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady

Brady’s first NFL coaching job was as an offensive analyst for the Saints (2017-18), but he became a household name to NFL front offices thanks to his work 80 miles northwest in Baton Rouge at LSU in 2019 when he was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach during the Tigers’ 15-0 national championship season. In his first full season as Bills offensive coordinator, Buffalo ranked 10th in yards and second in points.

1. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn

Glenn followed Lions head coach Dan Campbell to Detroit in 2021 after both were on Sean Payton’s 2020 Saints coaching staff. If hired, Glenn could bring others with connections to the Saints to lead the offense.

Lions assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett and quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell could be options at offensive coordinator, and both spent time with the Saints as players. Brunell served as Drew Brees’ backup for two seasons, including the team’s 2009 Super Bowl-winning season. Barrett, a former Ohio State quarterback, signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and played in three preseason games.

Detroit has ranked in the top five against the run in the past two seasons. Glenn would revitalize New Orleans’ moribund rush defense while potentially bringing the same offensive philosophies that have made the Lions a juggernaut.