Steve Spagnuolo: Ex-Head Coach Agrees to Become Saints' Defensive Coordinator

It didn’t take Steve Spagnuolo long to find another job.

Less than a month after being fired by the St. Louis Rams, Spagnuolo has agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints to become their defensive coordinator according to Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer:

Spagnuolo was the Rams head coach for the past two seasons, going a disappointing 9-21 under his watch. 

What it Means

This is a terrific fit for both sides. Spagnuolo is a defensive minded coach that specializes in creating a pass rush in a 4-3 scheme, the one New Orleans currently implements.

It’s the perfect landing spot for Spagnuolo. He can quickly erase people’s memories of his failures with the Rams by becoming a coordinator for one of the most talented teams in the NFL. The Saints will surely be featured on plenty of national games throughout the year and he will have the opportunity to win a Super Bowl. This position could lead him to another head coaching opportunity down the line.

It’s an odd switch of sorts considering former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is on his way to St. Louis to take over that position.

What’s Next?

Spagnulo gained notoriety in the league as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants from 2007-2008, where his unit was a major factor in winning the ’08 Super Bowl. Before that he held various titles on the defensive end of the ball with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-to-2006.

Now he gets to turnaround a Saints defense that finished 30^th in the league against the pass (259.8 YPG) and 12^th against the rush (108.6 YPG) while allowing 36 points to the offensive challenged 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs.

With the roster beginning to age, there will be some tough personnel decisions to make over the next few months.