NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports that New Orleans Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen is finalizing a deal with the LSU Tigers to become their next defensive coordinator, with Nielsen meeting with Saints head coach Sean Payton on Monday to break the news. ESPN’s Mike Triplett confirmed the report.
If hired, Nielsen would be reuniting with LSU’s Ed Orgeron, who coached him at USC during his playing days before adding Nielsen to his Ole Miss staff in one of his first coaching jobs. Before he made the jump to the NFL in 2017, Nielsen was an accomplished defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the N.