The New Orleans Saints have lost two respected coaches in the previous two days. On Sunday, it was revealed that Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has accepted the same position with the Seattle Seahawks.
On Monday, New Orleans linebacker coach Mike Hodges joined the Cincinnati Bengals’ staff. Hodges will be Cincinnati’s LB coach, the same job he held with the Saints.
The Saints, the only NFL team without a head coach, are expected to interview Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore this week. They also interviewed Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver last week. Interim coach Darren Rizzi and former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy are also reportedly in the running.
Hodges, 38, has been with the Saints since 2017. This offseason, he has gotten interest from throughout the league for a variety of roles, and he has previously been interviewed for potential defensive coordinator positions.
Hodges began as a defensive assistant and worked his way up to assistant LB coach in 2019. In 2020, Hodges was elevated to the team’s LB coach position. He continued with those responsibilities until accepting the Bengals’ offer on Monday.
Hodges, a highly recognized defensive coach, led a unit that produced draft picks such as Pete Werner and Kaden Elliss. Demario Davis has also blossomed into one of the NFL’s top defenders since joining the Saints in 2018.
Hodges began his undergraduate career as a linebacker at the Air Force Academy and finished as a walk-on at Texas A&M. In his final season in 2011, he was named second-team All-Big 12 and received the Aggie Heart Award. This is the highest accolade bestowed upon a senior Texas A&M football player.
Hodges joins a Cincinnati Bengals club that finished 25th in total defense last year. At the end of the season, the Bengals fired longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Al Golden, the former Notre Dame defensive coordinator, was hired late last week to replace Anarumo. Along with Mike Hodges, the Bengals have added defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery to Golden’s new staff.
