NEW ORLEANS, La. – The first major shakeup of the New Orleans Saints’ new era comes after the bye week. Per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, the team has fired run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti.
A source confirmed the firing with LouisianaSports.net.
Paganetti was hired as the team flipped its coaching staff during the 2025 offseason. He worked with Head Coach Kellen Moore during the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles season, helping to build an explosive run game and one of the league’s best offensive lines. However, that success has not translated to New Orleans.
The Saints are currently averaging 86 rushing yards per game in 2026, ranking No. 28 across the league. The team’s 3.5 rushing yards per carry this year place them at No. 30. The issue wasn’t specific to 2026, either.
Since the start of the 2025 season, the Saints have averaged just 91.9 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry, ranking 30th and 31st in the NFL, respectively.
The lack of explosive runs has been just as concerning. Over that span, New Orleans running backs have recorded just 29 runs of 10 or more yards and only two of 20 or more yards, ranking last in the league in both categories.
While it has been a surprise that the run game has not found success in New Orleans with Paganetti involved, some change had to occur.
The team has not yet announced the move itself, nor has there been any report of a succession plan. However, the organization has not often carried a run game coordinator, so it may simply rely on Moore and Offensive Line Coach Brendan Nugent to drive the run game; they worked alongside Paganetti heavily to construct the run game plan, per Moore.
Whether or not this move brings about change in the run game can only be proven on the field, but with many of the same minds still involved, it may take more moves in order to truly see advancement. But this is where the Saints have started.
