Former Saints coach Roberts dies at age 88 - ESPN All rights reserved. Now in his 27th year in coaching and 21st in the NFL, Allen has played for, coached with and learned from some of the best coaches in all of football. "We hadn't had a lot of success, and he came into a difficult situation. Following his playing days, Robertson spent four seasons (2003-06) as the Titans director of player development before starting his coaching career. The reason Hall of Fame lineman Willie Roaf found a spot with New Orleans in 1999 was at least in part thanks to Gajan, Detillier said. Abramowicz said Roberts grew into the job, though there wasn't much on-field success to show for it. Only the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick has been with his team longer. came in and took the team," Kupp said. He was 90. . That formula is not real good. The Dallas defensive unit finished eighth in the NFL in total defense in 2008 and led the league with 59 sacks. The transition thus far has been smooth. When injuries caused Gajan to retire from the Saints, he eventually accepted a position with the team in scouting and he had a talent for it, said draft guru Mike Detillier, who also lends his expertise to WWL-AM. Back then, you had to do it through the draft, either older guys (through the expansion draft) and young guys like myself (in the NFL draft). J.D. 1, Panthers' Bryce Young is all 'business now', Top picks Christian Gonzalez, Keion White reflect Patriots' ideal identity, Big takeaways from the NFL draft: A historic QB class, the rebuilt AFC South and new GMs thriving, NFL Nation sizes up all 259 draft selections, XFL semifinals: Defenders roll Sea Dragons, set up title showdown with Renegades. The story of the Cowboys scout and prospect son Dallas just drafted, Legacy pick: Cardinals take great-great-nephew of team's first-ever draft pick. Roberts is survived by his brother Wayne "Butch" Vincent Roberts (Suzanne); children Greg Roberts (Cindee), Becky Smith (Greg), Mindy Fleet, Mark Roberts (Shelley), and Neil Roberts; 12 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. He is preceaded in death by his wife June Roberts; father, William Edward Roberts; mother, Mildred Bianchi Roberts; brother, William Francis Roberts; and sister, Carol Roberts Matthews. Grantham started his NFL coaching career as a defensive line coach for the Indianapolis Colts (1999-2001) and the Houston Texans (2002-04). "We were a hard-working team. This is a guy who can help us. . Adam Zimmer served as a defensive assistant with the Saints between 2006 and 2009, including serving as a member of the team's Super Bowl XLIV coaching staff. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Lions finished ninthin the league with 88 passes defensed and held opponents to a 59.1 completion percentage in 2013. A running total of the number of coaches of the Saints. Bum Phillips, former coach of Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints Actor Kevin James is reportedly set to reprise the role of Sean Payton in the movie. In 2012, Grantham led a unit that contributed to only Georgia's third 12-win season all-time, as the Bulldogs allowed just 19 points (one touchdown, four field goals) in their last three SEC regular season victories and had a streak of six scoreless quarters. Full list of Mr. Irrelevants in NFL draft history: Is Brock Purdy already the best final pick? He left Texas to coach the Saints in 1981, going 27-42 before . Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints As per the most recent contract, Sean Payton's salary is $9.8 million, and the contract will last till 2023. He always had my back," said Manning, a Saints Hall of Famer and inaugural member of the franchise's Ring of Honor. In 2020, the Bears returned to the postseason after a one-year absence as Jimmy Graham led the team with eight touchdown catches, the second-most among NFC tight ends and his most since 2017-on 50 receptions, adding one more scoring grab in the playoffs. On the opposite end, despite coach Mike Ditkas infatuation with Texas running back Ricky Williams, Gajan went against conventional wisdom, warning against using a first-round pick on him. Phelan M. Ebenhack/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. his Masters Diploma in Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Roy During his time with the Saints, he quickly developed into an excellent coach. Ward finished tied for second in the NFL with 18 passes defensed, despite only playing in 12 games. New York Jets. New Orleans Saints announce new coaching staff additions Upon arriving in Cleveland in 2020, Woods helped the opportunistic Browns reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002, as they led the NFL with six red zone takeaways and finished tied for second in the NFL with 17 forced fumbles. Tennessee Titans. After he had moderate success, the team traded Williams to the Dolphins after three seasons. Roberts was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. J. D. Roberts has the lowest winning percentage (.219) and fewest wins (seven) for a full-time coach. The defensive lineman graduated from Ohio in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in marketing and earned his master's in sports administration from Kansas in 2010. The movie should be a welcome distraction for Payton who has to now decide between Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston as his starting QB for next season. Payton was spotted at Louisiana shooting for the movie which is being produced by Hollywood star Adam Sandlers Happy Madison Productions. "I don't know what's next -- and it kind of feels good," Payton said during an emotional 90-minute news conference at the team's practice facility. Payton's longevity in New Orleans is a rarity in today's NFL. 143. It was very hard on the players. He said, 'I don't care what happens out there, I don't care how bad we get beat, I don't care how many interceptions you throw, you're my quarterback. 'We don't want to put him out there until he's 100 percent', 'I don't have any special powers, but I am thorough, I do do things with thought', Jeff Ireland, Mike Baugh and Justin Matthews recognized among the best in college, pro scouting, "He's going through his process and we're going through our process", 'I believe that guys can appreciate the fact that I've actually played the game, played at a high level', 'This is where I want to be, this is what I want to do', 'I told my agent, I want to focus on the Saints more than these other ones', 'I've worked with him, I know how he operates', 'I wanted guys that I knew exactly what I was getting', 'There's nothing that makes you feel better about yourself than trying to do something to help out your community', 2023 New Orleans Saints. Mobile, Ala. - Three candidates have interviewed for the New Orleans Saints . But he always had my back and supported me. keep grinding and keep fighting," New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said about a season full of . Prior to his time at Temple, he spent eight years in NFL Europe (1998-2005), including stints . All rights reserved. Although the Saints narrowly missed the playoffs in 2021 (Payton joked that they are now rooting against the Los Angeles Rams since they failed to help them out with a Week 18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers), the season still represented one of Payton's most impressive coaching jobs in many ways. Minnesota Vikings NFL football team linebackers coach Adam Zimmer watches his players during practice Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone), 'It's Heartbreaking' | 2 high school students killed in Bay St. Louis shooting, Nice start to May, rain possible this weekend, CSU forecasts slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season, Saints RB Mark Ingram out 3-4 weeks with knee sprain, reports. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He earned second-team All-South and honorable mention All-America honors as a senior, graduating with a bachelor's degree in sports management. Robertston also developed S Jalen Thompson, who in 2021 was one of just five NFL players with 100-plus tackles (club-best 120), three-plus interceptions (three) and five-plus passes defensed (seven). ", Statement from the New Orleans Saints on the passing of Adam Zimmer: pic.twitter.com/q1wO7mPqdW, The team added: "Adam was knowledgeable, hard working, well liked by everyone he came into contact with and enthusiastic. J.D. Roberts, former coach of the New Orleans Saints, dies at 88 You had to do it through the draft and older players, so it was a tough situation. We answered the biggest post-draft question for all 32, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Teams set NFL record with 43 trades during draft, Jets coach Saleh: Rodgers making 'presence felt', Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son, Rams use 'Mr. Roberts also served as the first coach for Manning, who had a prolific career with the Saints, mostly on losing teams, but is now best known as the father of two quarterbacks who won two Super Bowls each: Peyton Manning and younger brother Eli. Carberry spent the first five seasons of his coaching career at the collegiate level, serving as a defensive graduate assistant at Kansas (2009-11) and coaching defensive ends at Stephen F. Austin (2012-13). Roberts, University of Oklahoma's senior guard, talks over with OU line coach Gomer Jones about his being named winner of the John B. Outland trophy as the outstanding lineman of the year, in Norman, Okla J. D. Roberts, the second coach the New Orleans Saints and man who made Archie Manning his quarterback, has died, Monday, May 24, 2021. He also played for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe in the spring of 2006. We answered the biggest post-draft question for all 32, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Teams set NFL record with 43 trades during draft, Jets coach Saleh: Rodgers making 'presence felt', Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son, Rams use 'Mr. NFL Draft Tracker - Sports Illustrated New Orleans Saints News 148. "He listened to the players but he was a disciplinarian. The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The thoughts and prayers of the New Orleans Saints organization go out to the entire Zimmer family, including Adams father, Mike and his two sisters, Corri and Marki, following the passing of Adam Zimmer," a statement from the New Orleans Saints said. Hokie Gajan, longtime Saints radio analyst and former player, dies at 56 Robertson served as Detroit's secondary coach in 2013 after being promoted from assistant secondary coach in 2012. "I think we're gonna do a great job in choosing another person that's going to be able to lead us the way that Sean did.". Along with DE Olivier Vernon (nine), the Browns were one of just four teams to have a pair of teammates each record at least nine sacks. He became the only NFL player to record 16 takedowns in each of the past two seasons, as he was selected to the Pro Bowl and as an Associated Press second-team All-Pro. Also, Payton had four seasons of 11-plus wins in his second decade with the Saints. "I cant believe Im writing this. In 2022, the Browns tied for fourth in the NFL in passes defensed (85) and ranked fifth in pass defense (196.2 ypg.). Carberry also coached during his playing career, serving as the defensive coordinator, defensive line and inside linebackers coach at St. Ignatius College Prep (Ill.), during his AFL years in 2007-08. All Rights Reserved. He said owner Gayle Benson, general manager Mickey Loomis and team president Dennis Lauscha all tried to talk him out of it. I thought he was going to sit me down, (but) just the opposite. The Falcons went 11-5 in the regular season to capture the NFC South title. From 2007-08, he played in the Arena Football League for the New York Dragons and Philadelphia Soul and was a member of the Soul's 2008 Arena Bowl Championship squad. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Following his arrival in 2005, the Browns ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense (179.2 yards per game). He was an assistant college coach at the University of Denver, Houston, Navy, Auburn and Oklahoma before coming to New Orleans as a scout and linebackers coach. Iconic New Orleans sportswriter Peter Finney dies at 88 Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. And he said he is interested in pursuing a TV analyst job, though he insisted that neither he nor his agent Don Yee have talked with any media outlets yet. And he presented Benson with a piece of king cake -- a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras dessert -- saying it was his version of TV character Ted Lasso's biscuit tradition. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He finished his career by appearing in 162 games (144 starts), collecting 24 interceptions, 72 passes defensed, 11 fumble recoveries, nine forced fumbles and 795 tackles (638 solo). The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. [1], The New Orleans Saints have had 16 head coaches in their franchise historyten full-time coaches and six interim coaches. In 2020, Mike Zimmer promoted his son to a co-defensive coordinator for the Vikings. The movie as per reports chronicles the story of the infamous fallout following NFLsBountygatescandal. The NFL awarded the city of New Orleans the 16th franchise in the league on November 1, 1966, All Saints Day, five months after the 89th United States Congress approved the merger of the NFL with the American Football League (AFL) in June of that year. He began his coaching career with the Titans as assistant secondary coach for two seasons (2007-08) before being promoted to secondary coach from 2009-11. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. "In fairness to Dennis, who's a great candidate in the building, or any other coach that possibly would be hired, there's no half-in in this game," said Payton, who also stressed that he thinks the team is still pointed in the right direction despite the fact that quarterback Drew Brees retired one year ago and and the injury-plagued 2021 team missed the playoffs for the first time in five years with a 9-8 record. of Trevor Lawrence. Robertson was a first-team All-Pro at free safety in 1993 and 1997. The New Orleans Saints hire Marcus Robertson as secondary coach for the 2023 season. Saints Coaches Roster | New Orleans Saints | NewOrleansSaints.com Guys knew he was in the trenches.". (Kennedy) was a West Coast guy, and at the time the club was infatuated with guys from that part of the country. Payton mentioned Allen by name while explaining that he and the Saints never discussed any sort of arrangement where he might possibly come back after a one-year hiatus. While with Washington, Carberry and offensive line coach Bill Callahan presided over one of the league's top units, producing two Pro Bowlers (T Trent Williams and G Brandon Scherff) for the first time since 1991. Hokie simply didnt make many mistakes. I don't know how well he'd fit in nowadays, but you respected him. He could do that. In 2009, the Cowboys ranked second in the NFL in scoring defense (15.6 points per game), fourth in rushing defense (90.5 yards per game), seventh in sacks (42) and ninth in total defense (315.9 yards per game). He was a man you could count on.. Carberry's unit also finished seventh-best in QB sack rate (4.9%) and third-best in pressures allowed per dropback (26.8%). 146. Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan and Louisiana Gov. Roaf was a nine-time All-Pro and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Roberts was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Tony Sparano, NFL coach, dies unexpectedly at 56 Doug Pederson, Brian Flores among five candidates included in Saints The Saints head coach who led the side to their maiden Super Bowl win in 2009 is a living legend in the city of New Orleans. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. As secondary coach, the Titans ranked second in the NFL in average passing yards per completion (10.6) between 2009-11. Grantham came to Gainesville after serving in the same position at Mississippi State in 2017 and at Louisville from 2014-16, where he tutored former Saints first round pick Sheldon Rankins. If I struggled, he'd pump me up. "But, man, I felt like it was time. The appointment brings Allen's tenure in New Orleans full circle as he has been a member of the . Roberts, the second coach of the New Orleans Saints and the man who made Archie Manning his quarterback, has died. EAGAN, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano died Sunday at the age of 56, the team said. Pease had his last coaching position at the University of Utah, where he was the defensive coordinator during the 2015 season. But J.D. "We got off to a fantastic start as far as a win," said guard Jake Kupp, a Saint from 1967-75 and a member of the team's Hall of Fame. In his two seasons in Chicago, Barone oversaw high-level performances from veterans, as well as developing younger players. At Kansas, he coached with the defensive line and outside linebackers. NEW ORLEANS ( WGNO) The Saints second head coach in franchise history, JD Roberts has died at the age of 88. And he thanked Benson for encouraging him to go on vacation for the past two weeks before making a final decision. The unit helped power Washington to the third-ranked offense in the NFL, allowing the team to average more than 400 yards per game for the first time in team history and allowing only 23 sacks -- fourth in the NFL. As a tight ends coach, Barone has had four players voted to the Pro Bowl with four different teams: the Falcons' Alge Crumpler, the Chargers' Antonio Gates, the Broncos' Julius Thomas and the Vikings' Kyle Rudolph. NEW ORLEANS Adam Zimmer, the son of former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and former defensive coach for the New Orleans Saints, has died at . But not with any regret. New Orleans finished 7-25-3 under Roberts. For the past 15 years, Gajan was the analyst of New Orleans . He was instrumental in the Saints' decision to take Archie Manning with the No. was a great guy. Hes from a little school, but hes always where hes supposed to be, and he doesnt make mistakes. Jim Haslett, Mora, and Payton are the only head coaches to lead the Saints into the playoffs. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Payton served as the assistant head coach/passing game coordinator and assistant head coach/quarterbacks for the Dallas Cowboys for three seasons before he . Sean Payton was the head coach of the Saints from 2006 to 2021. Prior to his tenure in Dallas, Grantham served three years as Cleveland's defensive coordinator from 2005-07. New Orleans Saints Coach Dennis Allen sought familiarity, effectiveness in coaches to fill out staff, Clancy Barone knew where he wanted to be when New Orleans Saints needed a tight ends coach, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Joe Woods in sync with Coach Dennis Allen, Photos: Saints hire five new coaches for 2023 season. 144. ", Abramowicz said that Roberts, who won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top offensive lineman at Oklahoma in 1953, "knew the score and he was thrown into a tough situation. Prior to his tenure in Cleveland, Woods served as defensive backs/pass game coordinator for the Super Bowl LIV finalist San Francisco 49ers in 2019, when they held opponents to 169.2 passing yards per game, ranking first in the NFL in 2019 and the lowest total allowed by an NFL team since 2009. Howard "Hokie" Gajan, a football presence in Louisiana for more than 40 years, died Monday. In 2021 under Woods' supervision, the Browns finished fifth in the NFL in total defense, marking just the third time since 1970 the team ranked in the top-five and the club's highest finish since 1987, one of just three NFL teams to finish in the top-12 in total defense, run defense and pass defense. Gajan, who not only scouted Williams but interviewed him, felt the Heisman Trophy recipient was aloof, seemingly almost detached, and immature. Thomas was selected to back-to-back Pro Bowls under Barone's supervision from 2013-14, a period when he ranked second in the NFL in touchdown receptions (24), tying for the league lead in 2014 (12). Famously, Ditka traded all of the Saints draft picks to the Washington Redskins to get Williams with the fifth selection. Utah (DC/DL) John Pease (October 14, 1943 - August 16, 2021) was an American football coach who held various positions in the pro and college ranks. He also caught 63 passes for 515 yards, an 8.2-yard average. Gajan finished his LSU career with 1,563 rushing yards along with 31 receptions for 283 yards. Statement from the New Orleans Saints on the death of longtime NFL But if you had a ways to go and needed someone to pound it out and safeguard the ball, Hokie was the man. Payton has the highest winning percentage while coaching the Saints, with .615, and his 118 wins are the most in franchise history. He helped the 2018 Broncos tie for fifthin the NFL in interceptions (17) after Denver ranked fourthin the NFL in pass defense (200.6 ypg.) Several Saints players were allegedly being paid extra cash by the teams management to target and injure specific opponents. John McCoy/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. Prior to Chicago, Barone served as the tight ends coach (2017) and co-offensive line coach with the Vikings. Gajan was diagnosed with cancer last year, and his daughter Kristin Gajan Sell told WWL Radio on Monday morning that Gajan had been moved to intensive care. He also served as the offensive line coach at both Wyoming and Houston and was the assistant head coach for his season at Texas State. 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