Derrick Foster is expected to join the New Orleans Saints staff as the team’s new running backs coach, according to reports. The news was first broke by Matt Zenitz of CBS and 247Sports, then confirmed by Nick Underhill of neworleans.football.
Foster has spent the last three seasons as RB coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Prior to that he was RB coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes for three seasons. He began his coaching career as an offensive assistant with the University of Tennessee in 2012.
The Chargers ranked 25th in rushing production last season. They were 30th the previous year and 21st in 2021. Chargers RB Austin Ekeler is considered one of the league’s top all-purpose backs and was instrumental for the Los Angeles passing attack.
Foster joins a revamped New Orleans offensive staff that still has openings at WR coach. Klint Kubiak is the new offensive coordinator, replacing longtime coordinator Pete Carmichael.
Andrew Janocko will be the new QB coach, taking over for the departed Ronald Curry. John Benton takes Doug Marrone’s place as the offensive line coach. Only TE coach Clancy Barone remains among the team’s offensive position coaches from last season.
New Orleans ranked 21st in rushing yardage last season and 31st in yards per carry. Dynamic RB Alvin Kamara is arguably the NFL’s most versatile back. Jamaal Williams had a quiet year after coming over from Detroit as a free agent, but was a 1,00-yard rusher and led the NFL in touchdowns with the Lions in 2022. Rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller was injured much of the year, but showed explosive potential down the stretch.