It appears that two further NFL head coaching vacancies have been filled. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 30-20 win over the New Orleans Saints capped off the divisional round of the playoffs Sunday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Saints’ assistant head coach and tight ends coach Dan Campbell (seen at left above) looks set to be the Detroit Lions’ new head coach:
Now that New Orleans has been eliminated, the Lions are expected to hire Saints’ Asst HC/TEs Dan Campbell as their next HC, per sources. The two sides still need to work out a deal, but it is not considered an obstacle, and Campbell will be the Lions next head coach.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 18, 2021
Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator Brandon Staley (seen at center above) will be moving to the other team in town, taking over as the head coach of the Chargers:
With a stealth hiring process, the #Chargers quietly scheduled a second interview with Staley for after his playoff games. He had other interviews schedule, but LAC had no intention of letting him leave. https://t.co/ZT4IQDZsFk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 18, 2021
And Josina Anderson reported that the Atlanta Falcons are going to bring Saints’ VP/AGM Terry Fontenot (seen at right above) in as GM. Fontenot had been previously linked to that job, but it wasn’t completely confirmed with his team still in the playoffs. Now, that move looks set.
Look for the #Falcons to name #Saints VP/ Assistant GM – Pro Personnel Terry Fontenot the team’s new general manager, barring an unexpected change, per source.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 18, 2021
So that’s an interesting late night of personnel moves, but it makes sense that the Saints’ ones in particular were reported after their game (and their playoff run) ended. Campbell played in the NFL from 1999-2009 and has coached since 2010 with Miami (including a 2015 stint as interim head coach for 12 games following the firing of Joe Philbin) and then New Orleans, while Staley worked in the college ranks (including at James Madison University and John Carroll University) through 2015 before spending time with the Bears, Broncos and Rams (where he was hired ahead of the 2020 season, and earned his first coordinator job). Meanwhile, Fontenot was a Saints’ scout from 2003-2012, then their director of pro scouting from 2013-19, and then their vice president/assistant general manager (pro personnel) this year. We’ll see how these three do in their new roles.
[Photos of Campbell/Staley/Fontenot from Saints.com/Rams Wire/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
