Important news for the #Saints: Pete Carmichael will stay as the offensive coordinator, source said. The team did several OC interviews, but came back to the best option being on their staff. More continuity in NO for coach Dennis Allen.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 17, 2022
Huh. After interviewing multiple outside candidates including Jay Gruden, a veteran offensive coordinator and former Washington Commanders head coach, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the New Orleans Saints plan to stick with longtime offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill confirmed the move. Just as with the promotion of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to head coach, the team is putting a premium on maintaining continuity during the post-Sean Payton era.
It makes sense. Carmichael has held the job since 2009 and has had success before as a play caller, in 2012 and again through much of the 2016 season. Now it’s time for him to fully step out of Payton’s shadow. At least the Saints did their due diligence in meeting with multiple coaches about the job before deciding to stay the course with Carmichael.
We’ll see if it works out, though. Carmichael has had more of a role in planning for games each week than in executing them, but there isn’t a coach in the league who better knows the system he and Payton built. Hopefully Carmichael is eager to introduce some of his own ideas to the mix.
And now, he and Allen have to finish adjusting the offensive coaching staff by hiring a receivers coach — and then tackle the biggest challenge of their offseason in finding a quarterback. Maybe the decision to retain Carmichael helps keep Jameis Winston in town even with other offers out there in free agency. We’ll know soon whether the Saints intend to promote from in-house at defensive coordinator or bring in one of several candidates they’ve met with.
