NFL Insider Jordan Schultz is reporting that the New Orleans Saints are hiring Rick Dennison as an offensive assistant. Dennison's title has not yet been made official, but Schultz reports that he'll be the Saints run game coordinator. He'll be the newest addition to the New Orleans offensive coaching staff under new coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Dennison, 65, has long ties to both Klint Kubiak and his family. A linebacker with the Denver Broncos from 1982 to 1990, he was teammates with Klint's father, Gary Kubiak, who was a backup QB for the Broncos from 1983 to 1991.
Dennison's coaching career also began with the Denver Broncos in 1995, where he was an assistant under offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and head coach Mike Shanahan. When Gary Kubiak departed to accept a head coaching role with the Houston Texans in 2006, Dennison was promoted to offensive coordinator. It was a position he held with Denver for three seasons.
In 2010, Dennison was reunited with Gary Kubiak in Houston when he became Kubiak's offensive coordinator. He'd hold that role until 2013. After a year with the Baltimore Ravens, the parties would be united again in 2015.
Dennison returned to the Denver Broncos in 2015. He was Denver's offensive coordinator for two seasons under head coach Gary Kubiak. Klint Kubiak was also on that staff as an offensive assistant. Together, they helped the Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 championship.
In 2019, Dennison and the Kubiaks were again joined. This time, with the Minnesota Vikings. Dennison was an offensive line coach and running game coordinator for three seasons. Gary Kubiak was the offensive coordinator for two of those years. Klint Kubiak was Minnesota's QB coach for two years before becoming offensive coordinator in 2021 after Gary's retirement.
Dennison has been out of football the last two years. One of the most respected offensive coaches in football, he'll add a ton of versatility and experience to the offensive staff. Dennison will be expected to bolster a New Orleans running game that ranked 21st in yardage and 31st in yards per carry last season.
Here is the updated list of the newest offensive coaches for the Saints.
Coordinator - Klint Kubiak
QBs - Andrew Janocko
RBs - Derrick Foster
Line - John Benton
Running Game - Rick Dennison
Tight ends coach Clancy Barone, WR assistant Kevin Petry, TE assistant Jordan Traylor, and line assistant Jahri Evans currently remain from last year's staff. The Saints still have a vacancy WR coach.
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