Report: Saints promote Galiano to special teams coordinator

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, La. — The New Orleans Saints and new head coach Kellen Moore have their first coordinator hire of the 2025 staff. 

Per SI’s Albert Breer, among many confirmations, the Saints will promote assistant special teams coordinator Phil Galiano to the lead special teams coordinator role. 

New Saints coach Kellen Moore has his first coordinator hire—officially promoting assistant special coach Phil Galiano into the STC role, per sources.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 19, 2025

This has been expected since Moore was hired as the team’s head coach. With that selection, it became clear that former interim head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi would soon depart. He did so eventually as he headed west to team back up with Sean Payton with the Denver Broncos. 

At that point, Galiano became the clear option in New Orleans. 

He has been with the Saints since 2019, joining Payton and Rizzi’s staff in the Big Easy at that time. He has been a part of several successful special teams units and has the knowledge necessary to carry on a long-running expectation of top-flight special teams acumen for the Saints. 

The Philadelphia native joins the former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winner as his first coordinator hire in New Orleans.