LSU football is still looking to hire a defensive coordinator after Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen stays in New Orleans. Nielsen was reportedly working on a contract with LSU to become the Tigers next defensive coordinator, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier says head coach Sean Payton would not let Nielsen out the door.
“It happened before with other coaches and with other teams, and Sean has blocked moves with other coaches,” said Detillier.
Nielsen previously played for and coached with Ed Orgeron at USC and Ole Miss. He just completed his fourth season as the Saints defensive line coach. Detillier says Payton got Nielsen to stay by promoting him to assistant head coach and gave him a new three-year contract.
“Contract wise I don’t see how the Saints could have stopped him from moving on, I think this was more of a tap on the brakes, to try to work out a deal to try to keep Ryan with the Saints, which they have done.” said Detillier.
LSU was also reportedly close to hiring Marcus Freeman as defensive coordinator, but he took the D-C job at Notre Dame. Detillier says Orgeron has another option.
“I know that Ed has always said that I have a short list of guys and if one doesn’t work, a second one doesn’t work, I got a third guy. I think it will happen very quickly,” said Orgeron.
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