Saints part ways with co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard

The New Orleans Saints had two defensive coordinators this past season but now they have none.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first to report that New Orleans is parting ways with co-defensive coordinator Kris Richard.

The #Saints parted ways with co-defensive coordinator/secondary Kris Richard, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

New Orleans' other co-DC, Ryan Nielsen, recently took the DC job in Atlanta. Significant changes on D.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 1, 2023

With the recent departure of Ryan Nielsen, who had shared the Saints defensive coordinating duties with Richard before leaving to run Atlanta’s defense, New Orleans must fill the role while assuming head coach Dennis Allen will still call the defense on game dayd.

Richard was also the team’s secondary coach while Nielsen coached the defensive line, meaning New Orleans has vacancies in all three areas.

Richard, who joined the Saints in 2021 as secondary coach, has served as a coordinator previously with Seattle and Dallas.