By Ross Jackson
As Super Bowl LIX kicks off soon, there will not only be one future New Orleans Saint in Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on the Eagles’ sideline, but several former Saints, as well.
Here are the players and coaches that have gone from black and gold to kelly green on the Eagles’ sideline this afternoon, as the team competes for a Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Philadelphia Eagles:
LB Zack Baun
Baun is the most recent Saints to make his way to the City of Brotherly Love. The third-round linebacker played out his rookie deal in New Orleans, before hitting the open market just this offseason. Now, he’s back in the Big Easy appearing in a Super Bowl for the Eagles. Baun has been a much better fit for Philadelphia than in New Orleans. His first year with the Eagles, he was named a Defensive Player of the Year finalist.
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
The polarizing safety was traded from New Orleans to Philadelphia a couple of years ago. He spent one year with the Eagle,s before finding his way to the Detroit Lions for a year. He once again hit free agency in 2024, only to return to the Eagles after his year with the Lions. The safety was an effective nickel corner for the Saints, but has made his mark as a safety for Philadelphia.
QB Ian Book
Book has been on and off the Eagles’ practice squad after not finishing his rookie deal in New Orleans. He won’t take the field at Super Bowl LIX, but as a member of the practice squad, he still qualifies for a Super Bowl ring.
QB Coach Doug Nussmeier
Nussmerier started his playing career in New Orleans as a fourth-round draft pick in 1994. He remained with the Saints until 1997. An interesting note on Nussmerier is that he could actually end up being a member of the Saints organization again this offseason. The quarterbacks coach has followed Moore from the Dallas Cowboys to the Los Angeles Chargers and now the Eagles. With Moore expected to become the Saints’ next head coach, Nussmerier could make a return to the bayou as well. His son, Garrett Nussmeier, is the quarterback of the LSU Tigers and is expected to enter the 2026 NFL Draft class.
DC Vic Fangio
The Dunmore, Penn. native grew up a Philadelphia pro sports fan and now he’s back in New Orleans coaching for a Super Bowl championship. He coached the Saints linebackers from 1986 through 1994, leading the famed Dome Patrol linebacker corps.
Kansas City Chiefs:
DC Steve Spagnuolo
“Spags” spent one season as the Saints’ defensive coordinator during the team’s Sean Payton era back in 2012. The season was the same year that Payton served his suspension connected his alleged role in the so-called “Bounty Gate” scandal. The season was a forgettable one all-around, but particularly on defense where New Orleans ranked No. 31 in scoring and No. 32 in total yards allowed. Spagnuolo was fired ahead of the 2023 season and has since gone on to add three more Super Bowl rings to his 2007 championship.
