METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints announced the addition of six new coaches to fill out the coaching staff and turn attention toward the NFL Draft this spring.
The new hires will serve under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was brought in to replace longtime OC Pete Carmichael earlier this month.
The six coaches include:
- John Benton, offensive line coach
- Rick Dennison, senior offensive assistant
- Derrick Foster, running backs coach
- Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach
- Keith Williams, wide receivers coach.
- DeNarius McGhee, assistant wide receivers coach
Benton brings 33 years of coaching experience, including 19 in the NFL. Seven of his offensive lines have finished in the Top 10 in rushing yards per game. Benton's previous league stops include the New York Jets (2021-22), San Francisco 49ers (2017-20), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016), Miami Dolphins (2014-15), Houston Texans (2006-13) and St. Louis Rams (2004-05).
Meanwhile, senior offensive assistant Dennison has 27 years of NFL coaching experience, which includes serving 19 of his last 21 seasons as a coordinator or offensive line coach. Dennison has helped coach teams to 13 playoff appearances, five division titles and three Super Bowl victories.
Prior to joining the Saints, Dennison served three seasons on the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff from 2019-21. He also had stints with the New York Jets (2018), Buffalo Bills (2017), Baltimore Ravens (2014), Houston Texans (2010-2013) and two stints with the Denver Broncos (1995-2009, 2015-2016).
Foster replaces longtime running backs coach Joel Thomas, who took the same job with the New York Giants in January after spending nine seasons with the Saints. Foster was the running backs coach for the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. Under Foster's tutelage, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler recorded 44 regular-season scrimmage touchdowns (20 in 2021, 18 in 2022 and six in 2023), ranking first in the NFL over that span and leading the league in his first two seasons.
Janocko has 11 years of NFL coaching experience, including the last two as quarterbacks coach of Justin Fields with the Chicago Bears. Last season, Fields became the second-fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 2,000 rushing yards in just 36 games and only the third signal-caller with at least 2,000 rushing yards in his first three seasons.
Williams comes to New Orleans after spending the past three seasons on the offensive coaching staff of the Baltimore Ravens, serving as assistant wide receivers coach in 2023.
McGhee comes to New Orleans as a ten-year coaching veteran. He arrives after serving as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans from 2020-23.
Other offensive coaches previously added, include tight ends coach Clancy Barone, and assistants Jahri Evans, Jordan Taylor and Kevin Petry.
Defensively speaking, as well as special teams, third-year head coach Dennis Allen's staff remains the same.
The three-day 2024 NFL Draft runs from Thursday, April, 25 to Sunday, April 27.
Currently, the Saints have the 14th overall pick in the first round.
The last time the team picked 14th was 2018 when they drafted defensive end Marcus Davenport. Previously they selected safety Malcolm Jenkins 14th in 2009.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.
