Saints Hire Vitt

*r8rh8rmike* · #1 (**permalink**) -28-01-2006

NEW ORLEANS -- The Saints hired former Rams interim coach Joe Vitt as linebackers coach Friday.

New coach Sean Payton also hired Doug Marrone as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, and John Bonamego as special teams coach.

Vitt, who also will carry the title assistant head coach, took over in St. Louis six games into last season when Mike Martz was sidelined for health reasons and ultimately led the Rams to a 6-10 mark.

Before his promotion, Vitt was the Rams' assistant head coach-linebackers. From 2000-2004, he served as Chiefs linebackers coach.

Vitt was the Packers' defensive backs coach in 1999. He also coached linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles and spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

"I worked with Joe at the Eagles and the one thing you can say is that his players always excel,'' Payton said.

*r8rh8rmike* · #2 (**permalink**) -28-01-2006

Quote:

"I worked with Joe at the Eagles and the one thing you can say is that his players always excel,'' Payton said.

This is an interesting comment considering "excel" was not a word you would apply to Vitt's defensive players in 2005.