Saints Fire Run Game Coordinator T.J. Paganetti
New Orleans makes its first coaching change since owner Gayle Benson criticized the team's level of play last month.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
The New Orleans Saints fired offensive run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti during their bye week, multiple reports indicate. The move is the first coaching staff change since Gayle Benson said she would not accept the team's current level of play as the standard.
Why it matters
The Saints sit at 2-5 on the season and rank 29th in the league in rushing, averaging 86 yards per game, making the run game a central concern. The change follows Benson's public criticism and comes as the team has gone 1-1 since her remarks.
The Saints average 86 rushing yards per game, which ranks 29th in the league, and the team stands at 2-5 on the season. The reasons behind the firing and the identity of Paganetti's replacement have not been disclosed.
The players
New Orleans Saints
The NFL franchise based in New Orleans, Louisiana, which has been coached by Kellen Moore since 2025.
Gayle Benson
The owner of the New Orleans Saints who publicly said she would not accept the team's current level of play as the standard.
Kellen Moore
The Saints head coach who previously worked with Paganetti on the Philadelphia Eagles' staff.
T.J. Paganetti
The former Saints offensive run game coordinator who had previously spent seven seasons on the Philadelphia Eagles' staff.
The details
Paganetti joined the Saints as part of head coach Kellen Moore's first staff in 2025, after the two had worked together with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. He had been on the Eagles' staff for seven seasons, initially working there in 2013 and 2014, and returned after a two-year stint at Oregon.
Timeline
Last month (October 2026): Gayle Benson said she would not accept the team's current level of play.
2013-2014: Paganetti first worked for the Philadelphia Eagles.
2024: Paganetti and Kellen Moore worked together with the Eagles.
2025: Paganetti joined the Saints as part of Moore's first staff.
Week 9 (2026): The Saints host the Browns in their first game after the bye.
Season Trajectory
The firing extends the staff turnover that began when Kellen Moore assembled his first Saints staff in 2025, which included Paganetti. With the team at 2-5, the change signals that the run game and overall performance remain under review midseason.
The run game ranks among the league's weakest, so the replacement of Paganetti could affect how the offense is called in upcoming games. Fantasy managers rostering Saints running backs should watch the Week 9 game against the Browns for early signs of a changed approach.
The takeaway
Coaching changes in midseason are often a signal of frustration with results, and the Saints' next several games will show whether the run game responds. Readers tracking the team should watch rushing output and play-calling trends over the coming weeks.
What happens next
The Saints host the Cleveland Browns in Week 9, their first game since the bye and the first since the coaching change.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see the Football section.
