BREAKING: Saints Finalizing Deal For New Offensive Coordinator
The new offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints looks like it will be San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak. This according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Friday afternoon.
Schefter reports that the Saints and Kubiak are finalizing a deal to bring him to New Orleans. Kubiak will be coaching the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday. No deal can be official until after the game.
Kubiak, who turns 37 on February 17, had been with the 49ers for just one season. San Francisco ranked second in total offense and third in points scored in 2023 on their way to the NFC championship. The 49ers were fourth in passing production, third in rushing yardage, and first in red zone efficiency during the 2023 campaign.
Son of former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint was a college safety at Colorado State from 2005 to 2009. His first coaching job was as a graduate assistant and quality control coach at Texas A&M from 2010 to 2012.
The Minnesota Vikings brought Kubiak on as an offensive quality control assistant from 2013 to 2014. In 2013, Klint was on the Vikings staff with current Saints defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who was a defensive backs coach with Minnesota at the time.
Jan 8, 2023; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talks with quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY
Kubiak returned to the collegiate ranks in 2015, serving as the WR coach at Kansas. After one year there, he was hired to be an offensive assistant for the Denver Broncos in 2016. He'd remain there for three years, where father Gary was head coach in 2016 and Joe Woods was defensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018.
In 2019, Kubiak was brought back to Minnesota as a QB coach for the Vikings. Gary Kubiak was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator with Minnesota in 2019 and 2020. Upon Gary's retirement in 2021, Klint was promoted to offensive coordinator. The Vikings ranked 12th in total offense that season, finishing 11th in passing yardage and 17th in rushing production.
Kubiak moved back to the Denver Broncos in 2022, this time as QB coach and passing game coordinator. Like in Minnesota the year before, Kubiak was out of a job when the team fired it's entire staff of coaches. He more than landed on his feet with San Francisco, helping to further diversify one of the best offenses in the NFL.
The 49ers scored at least 30 points in 10 games this season and averaged an NFL-best 6.6 yards per play and second most first downs. They had just 18 turnovers, fourth fewest in the league. Their 8.4 net yards per pass attempt was also the best in the NFL.
Sep 17, 2023; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY
San Francisco's offensive attack was orchestrated by head coach Kyle Shanahan. However, Kubiak was highly respected throughout the league for his ability to put together balanced game plans, the ability to use the best attributes of their top players, and for the continued development of QB Brock Purdy.
Kubiak replaces Pete Carmichael, who was let go by the Saints in January. Carmichael had been with the franchise for 18 seasons, 15 as offensive coordinator. It is the longest tenure in NFL history for a coordinator. In 2023, the Saints ranked 14th in total offense, ninth in points scored, 11th in passing yardage, and 21st in rushing production.
New Orleans still has openings at WR coach and RB coach. Presumably, Kubiak will also have a say whether to retain offensive line coaches Doug Marrone and Jahri Evans, QB coach Ronald Curry, and TE coach Clancy Barone.
The Saints will not have a bare cupboard for Klint Kubiak. Alvin Kamara is the league's most versatile running back, WR Chris Olave is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, WR Rashid Shaheed is an explosive threat, and TEs Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill present tons of matchup advantages.
