SAINTS vs. CHARGERS CONNECTIONS
New Orleans Head Coach Kellen Moore and Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Saints Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley in Los Angeles in 2023, when he served as head coach of the Chargers.
Staley coached the Chargers from 2021–23. In 2022, he guided them to their first playoff appearance since 2018, had Saints Offensive Line Coach Brendan Nugent serve in the same position in Los Angeles from 2022–23 and Edges Coach Jay Rodgers served on his staff all three seasons.
Saints guard/center Cesar Ruiz and wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones played for Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh when he coached at Michigan from 2016–19.
Saints running back Kendre Miller and Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis, a product of West Feliciana (St. Francisville, La.) HS, and wideout Quentin Johnson were college teammates at TCU as the Horned Frogs advanced to the 2022 College Football Playoff Championship game.
New Orleans Quarterbacks Coach Scott Tolzien tutored Chargers quarterback Trey Lance in Dallas from 2023–24, where Tolzien served in the same position.
Saints wide receiver Dante Pettis, who prepped at JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) HS, is the son of former California Angels outfielder Gary Pettis.
Saints tight end Juwan Johnson, center/guard Shane Lemieux, quarterback Tyler Shough and Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert were college teammates at Oregon.
New Orleans defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and Los Angeles wide receiver Jalen Reagor were teammates in New England from 2023–24.
New Orleans Linebackers Coach Peter Sirmon served as linebackers/recruiting coordinator/associate head coach defense at USC from 2014–15.
Saints running back Devin Neal and Chargers wide receiver Luke Grimm were college teammates at Kansas.
Chargers wide receiver Tre Harris prepped at Ovey Comeaux (Lafayette) HS and played at Louisiana Tech, where he was a teammate of Saints wide receiver Bub Means.
New Orleans defensive end Chris Rumph II was a fourth-round pick of the Chargers in 2021 and played for Los Angeles from 2021–23.
Saints linebacker Tyreem Powell and Chargers wide receiver JacQuae Jackson were teammates at Rutgers.
Saints linebacker Jaylan Ford and Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker were college teammates at Texas.
Saints defensive back Ugo Amadi, offensive lineman Dillon Radunz, Chargers nose tackle Teiar Tart, wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick and running back Hassan Haskins were teammates with the Tennessee Titans.
Radunz and Lance were college teammates at North Dakota State.
Saints guard Cesar Ruiz, wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and Haskins were college teammates at Michigan in 2019.
Los Angeles Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Jonathan Goodwin played for New Orleans from 2006–10 and in 2014.
New Orleans Run Game Coordinator T.J. Paganetti served on the same Eagles staff with Chargers Senior Defensive Analyst Rick Minter in Philadelphia from 2013–14.
Rodgers tutored Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack in both Chicago from 2018–20 and in Los Angeles from 2022–23.
Saints wide receiver Chris Olave prepped at Mission Hills (San Marcos, Calif.) HS after transferring from Eastlake (Chula Vista, Calif.) HS.
Saints safety Terrell Burgess also prepped at San Marcos.
New Orleans wide receiver/return specialist Rashid Shaheed prepped at Mt. Carmel (San Diego, Calif.) HS.
New Orleans offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri played for Los Angeles Offensive Assistant Stone Smartt, when he was offensive coordinator at Old Dominion from 2020–21.
Godchaux, New Orleans guard/center Will Clapp and tight end Foster Moreau played with Los Angeles cornerback Donte Jackson, who prepped at Riverdale HS, at LSU.
Clapp played for the Chargers from 2022–23.
Saints safety Julian Blackmon and Chargers running back Nyheim Miller-Hines were teammates with the Indianapolis Colts from 2021–22.
Los Angeles Senior Offensive Assistant Marc Trestman served as an offensive consultant with the Saints in 2007, with Nugent also serving on his coaching staffs with the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes (2012) and Chicago Bears (2013–14).
New Orleans Wide Receivers Coach Keith Williams, Los Angeles Offensive Line Coach Mike Devlin and Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman served on the same Baltimore Ravens staff.
Los Angeles Offensive Quality Control/Wide Receivers Jeff Carpenter served as an offensive analyst at LSU in 2021.
Saints defensive end Chase Young and Chargers quarterback Taylor Heinicke were teammates in Washington from 2020–22.
