Saints Fire Assistant Head Coach/LB Coach Joe Vitt, Four Others

The New Orleans Saints made some serious changes to their coaching staff on Thursday.

Saints Fire Assistant Head Coach/LB Coach Joe Vitt, Four Others

The team has fired assistant head coach/linebacker coach Joe Vitt and four other assistant coaches: defensive line coach Bill Johnson, special teams coordinator Greg McMahon, assistant special teams coach Stan Kwan and defensive assistant/linebackers coach James Willis, sources informed of the situation told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Rapoport added the move indicates head coach Sean Payton will remain in New Orleans.

Alex Marvez of SportingNews.com first reported the news.

“Of course there’s still open speculation with Sean Payton eyeing with some potential job opportunities at least with the Rams and some other places,” Rapoport said on Up to The Minute Live on Thursday. “But the fact that he seems to be making some staff changes, making decisions for the Saints in 2017 does indicate more strongly than his words ever could is that he’s staying in New Orleans for at least one more year.”

Vitt was with the Saints for 11 seasons. He came to New Orleans after serving as interim head coach for the final 11 games in St. Louis in 2005.

The Saints finished the regular season 7-9, and did not clinch a playoff berth.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 16: Interim Head Coach Joe Vitt of the New Orleans Saints reacts during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 16, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)