NEW ORLEANS — The Saints are losing a valuable piece of the coaching staff to a division rival, as the Atlanta Falcons announced today that they have hired co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen as their new defensive coordinator.
Nielsen joined the Saints in 2017 as the team's defensive line coach, and served in that role until 2021. He was elevated to co-defensive coordinator, along with defensive backs coach Kris Richard, ahead of the 2022 season.
Despite their new titles, neither Nielsen nor Richard called plays in that role, as head coach Dennis Allen maintained defensive play calling duties.
Since Nielsen's arrival in 2017, the Saints' defensive line has been one of their more consistently successful units, totaling 281 sacks, the second most in the NFL over that span. The team has also finished in the top 10 in sacks in five of the last six seasons.
Nielsen had previously been offered a position to serve as LSU's defensive coordinator on Ed Orgeron's staff in 2021, but opted to stick with the Saints.
This opportunity will allow Nielsen to lead a defense of his own.
Richard, meanwhile, has interviewed for the open defensive coordinator positions with the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins this cycle. Unlike Nielsen, Richard has served in a play calling role previously in his career, when he was the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator from 2015-2017.