Former Miami Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell will join the New Orleans Saints' staff as their tight ends coach and assistant head coach, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett. Current tight ends coach Dan Roushar is expected to remain on staff, though it is unclear at this time what his role will be.
Former Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell joins Saints staff
Campbell will be their new assistant head coach/tight ends coach.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi will also join the Saints as their new quarterbacks coach. Lombardi was fired after the Lions got off to a 1-6 start to the 2015 season.
The Dolphins named Campbell interim head coach after they fired Joe Philbin following the Dolphins' Week 4 loss in London to the New York Jets. After starting the season 1-3 with Philbin, the Dolphins went 5-7 under Campbell's leadership, finishing the year with a 6-10 record. Campbell asked to be released from his contract with the Dolphins after the team hired Adam Gase as its new head coach, leaving Campbell free to seek other opportunities.
Campbell, a former NFL tight end, was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1999 draft. Saints head coach Sean Payton coached Campbell during his time in New York, and Payton was also on staff when Campbell was with the Dallas Cowboys. Campbell signed with the Saints prior to the 2009 season and was placed on injured reserve before the season began. He retired following the Saints' Super Bowl victory.
His coaching career began the following season, when Campbell was hired by the Dolphins as a coaching intern. The Dolphins promoted Campbell to the tight ends coach position in 2011, and he remained in that role until being named interim head coach early in the 2015 season.
Payton had glowing praise for Campbell when he was named the interim head coach in Miami, per Triplett. “He’s a fantastic guy, a great worker, a great teammate,” Payton said. “He’s someone that is tough, strong. I can’t say enough good things.”
Campbell will be working with a position group in New Orleans that includes tight end Benjamin Watson, who is coming off of a career season. In his 12th season in the NFL, Watson had 825 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Watson was one of Drew Brees' favorite targets, and his 74 receptions were second only to the team's leading receiver, Brandin Cooks.
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