Saints retain LSU defensive coordinator target Ryan Nielsen as assistant head coach

Defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen is staying with the New Orleans Saints after getting a promotion to assistant head coach rather than becoming the defensive coordinator at LSU, ESPN reported Tuesday.

Nielsen has received a new three-year contract with the Saints to stay on staff as the assistant head coach while continuing to coach the defensive line under Sean Payton. In his new duties, Nielsen replaces Dan Campbell, who left to become head coach of the Detroit Lions

Reports leaked Monday that the Saints were not willing to let Nielsen out of his contract to take the college position on Ed Orgeron’s staff.

LSU has now lost out on at least two DC targets it intended to hire with Nielsen joining Marcus Freeman, the former Cincinnati DC who took the same position recently at Notre Dame.