Saints Fire T.J. Paganetti

T.J. Paganetti’s coaching tenure with the Saints has come to an end. The team’s run game coordinator was fired on Monday, as first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

When speaking to the media, head coach Kellen Moore confirmed the news. Improved production on the ground will be sought out moving forward. New Orleans is currently averaging just 86 rushing yards per game, which ranks 28th in the NFL.

Moore said (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell) offensive line coach Brendan Nugent will now lead the run game. Other changes are coming to the Saints’ staff, Moore added. Those alterations will be handled in house, however (as noted by Underhill).

Paganetti’s time in the NFL began when he joined the Eagles in 2013 as an analyst, and he worked there for two years. A return to Oregon took place from 2015-16. Afterwards, Paganetti came back to Philadelphia. He held a number of titles during that second stint, including running game specialist for 2023 and ’24. Moore spent the 2024 campaign as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, and Paganetti was among the staffers who followed him to New Orleans last winter. 

The Saints were one of the league’s worst teams in terms of rushing yardage in 2025, and the free agent signing of Travis Etienne (who is currently on injured reserve) has not brought about improvements so far. Longtime Saint Alvin Kamara remains in the fold, but his season-high rushing total for a game this year is just 36 yards. If Nugent can coax a step forward out of the Saints’ rushing options, the goal of better balance on offense will become more attainable.

Paganetti will now be free to join another staff. It will be interesting to see if a third Eagles stint could be a possibility. Failing that, a return to the college ranks or a gig with a new NFL team will be in store.