A Potential Dark Horse Coaching Candidate for the Saints…
As the NFL wild-card round concludes, an underrated coaching prospect might emerge for consideration. The New Orleans Saints, one of five teams currently in search of a head coach, are exploring several candidates. The list of teams with vacancies includes the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Las Vegas Raiders. The New England Patriots filled their position by hiring Mike Vrabel on Sunday.
A consistent pool of interviewees has surfaced for all five teams. The Saints have either interviewed or plan to interview a majority of these candidates. Their current list includes Aaron Glenn, Anthony Weaver, Kliff Kingsbury, Joe Brady, Mike Vrabel, Mike Kafka, Kellen Moore, and interim head coach Darren Rizzi.
While other teams are also vying for these coaches, some favorites have started to stand out. Vrabel is reportedly joining the Patriots, according to Sunday’s news. Other top candidates like Ben Johnson and Brian Flores remain unavailable until their teams’ seasons conclude.
Despite national speculation, the Saints have not hinted at a frontrunner for their vacancy. This raises the question of what their backup plan might be if their preferred candidates are hired elsewhere.
Wes Phillips, Offensive Coordinator, Vikings
A potential under-the-radar candidate is Wes Phillips, the Offensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. Phillips, 45, has held this position for two seasons, during which the Vikings ranked 12th in total offense and sixth in passing, with quarterback Sam Darnold leading the charge. Last year, they were 10th in total offense and fifth in passing yardage.
Phillips comes from a family of NFL coaches—his father, Wade Phillips, and grandfather, Bum Phillips, both served as NFL head coaches, with ties to the Saints. Wes played quarterback at UTEP and briefly in arena football before transitioning into coaching.
His coaching journey began as a QB coach at West Texas A&M, followed by a similar role at Baylor. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys as an offensive assistant, working in various capacities until 2013. Phillips later served as the TE coach for the Washington Redskins, working under notable coaches like Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell.
In 2019, Phillips reunited with McVay at the Los Angeles Rams, eventually becoming the TE coach and passing game coordinator. He followed O’Connell to the Vikings in 2022, taking on the offensive coordinator role.
Why Phillips Deserves Consideration
Phillips’ impact on Sam Darnold’s career resurgence is noteworthy. Darnold, previously labeled a bust, delivered a career-best season under Phillips, throwing for over 4,300 yards and earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
While Phillips’ limited experience as a play-caller is a concern—especially since O’Connell is the primary play-caller in Minnesota—the success of other coaches from the Sean McVay coaching tree suggests potential. Despite lacking formal head coaching interviews, Phillips could be a valuable option for the Saints or other teams if their top choices aren’t available.
