Report: Another Saints defensive coach is headed to Las Vegas

(Photo courtesy of @mzenitz on X)

By Ross Jackson

As the New Orleans Saints prepare to re-staff their coaching roster, previous members continue to find new opportunities. 

Per CBS Sports’ Mark Zenitz, the Las Vegas Raiders have hired former Saints defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson. Robertson will join former Saints defensive coordinator Joe Woods on staff. The two also coached together for the Raiders back in 2014, making this a return to previous stomping grounds for the secondary specialists.

Robertson will hold the same role in Las Vegas as he did in New Orleans as defensive backs coach, while Woods will shift to defensive passing game coordinator.

Robertson moved into the defensive back coach position in his previous Raiders stint in 2015. Over his three total seasons with the team, the defense reeled in 39 interceptions. Robertson was instrumental in Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson’s transition from cornerback to safety. The coach was a former player himself, earning first-team All-Pro honors at safety in 1993.

New Orleans will now construct their entire defensive coaching staff from scratch, when it comes to position coaches and coordinator. The Saints have seen their defensive line coach Todd Grantham depart for the Oklahoma State University defensive coordinator job after being demoted mid-season in New Orleans. Linebackers coach Michael Hodges took his same role with the Cincinnati Bengals earlier the year. Now Robertson joins Woods in Las Vegas.

The leading name for defensive coordinator in New Orleans has been former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who coordinated the league’s best defense with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.