Klint Kubiak of the New Saints is traveling to New Orleans with a well-known staff member. After spending two seasons out of the league, Rick Dennison is set to make a comeback to coaching.
Dennison will join the Saints as their offensive run-game coordinator, according to a tweet from Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. Dennison has a long history with Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak, who were instrumental in creating the offense that has gained popularity with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.
Dennison, 65, a Four-time offensive coordinator, is expected to go to New Orleans. Dennison’s time as an offensive coordinator is most likely finished, but his decision to work with Klint Kubiak and the NFC South team gives us a good idea of the kind of attack the new coordinator intends to run.
In Minnesota, Dennison collaborated with both Kubiaks as the O-line coach and run-game coordinator for the Vikings from 2019 to 20. In 2021, he worked as a senior offensive assistant.
Dennison worked as an assistant to Mike Shanahan for his entire 14-year tenure as the Broncos head coach. The former linebacker for the Bronx was on of Shanahan’s crew that produced an assembly line of 1,000-yard rushers, but he was not the offensive line coach when a powerful Denver O-line propelled Terrell Davis into the Hall of Fame. Dennison was promoted to offensive lineman by the Broncos in 2006, and in 2010 he joined Gary Kubiak in Houston. Arian Foster’s rise with the Texans, which included a running title, coincided with Dennison’s tenure as offensive coordinator.
With the Broncos, Dennison won three Super Bowl rings. In 2015, he received his third ring as an offensive coordinator under Gary Kubiak. In Sean McDermott’s rookie season (2017), the Bills hired Dennison as a play-calling offensive coordinator. However, they let him go after just one season, which is how Brian Daboll was hired. Under Dennison, the Bills were sixth on the ground but 22nd offensively, as LeSean McCoy raced his way to yet another Pro Bowl in Buffalo. Dennison faced criticism in 2021 for declining the COVID-19 vaccine. Dennison was reportedly kept by the Vikings but relieved of his O-line coaching duties as a result, because coaches were required to get vaccinated before they could work directly with players that season.
Additionally, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.com, the Saints have hired Derrick Foster, a former Chargers assistant, to teach their running backs. According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football, they just conducted interviews with Keith Williams for the role of wide receivers coach. Williams was employed by the Ravens under Greg Roman’s offensive coordinatorship and served as their assistant wideouts coach the previous season. Todd Monken replaced Roman in that role. Williams also worked for Pat Hill at Fresno State from 2009 to 2011, which coincided with Derek Carr’s tenure there.
