New Orleans Saints Head Coach Dennis Allen has revealed the addition of six new assistants to his staff. John Benton has been appointed as the offensive line coach, Rick Dennison as senior offensive assistant, Derrick Foster as running backs coach, Andrew Janocko as quarterbacks coach, DeNarius McGhee as assistant wide receivers coach, and Keith Williams as wide receivers coach.
Benton, with 33 years of coaching experience and 19 in the NFL, has a track record of success in directing offensive lines. Notably, during his four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2017-20), the team boasted the fourth-most rushing yards in the league and achieved a top-ten rushing offense each year. The 49ers also reached the Super Bowl in 2019. Benton’s coaching journey includes stints with the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, and St. Louis Rams.
Dennison, with 27 years of NFL coaching experience, brings a wealth of expertise, having served as a coordinator or offensive line coach for 19 of the last 21 seasons. His coaching history includes successful tenures with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and the Denver Broncos, where he also played as a linebacker for nine seasons.
Foster, the new running backs coach, previously spent three seasons in the same position with the Los Angeles Chargers. Under Foster’s guidance, running back Austin Ekeler excelled, leading the NFL in scrimmage touchdowns over the past three seasons. Foster’s coaching career also includes stints at the University of Iowa, Samford University, and Northwestern State University.
Janocko, with 13 years of coaching experience, including the last two as the quarterbacks coach of the Chicago Bears, has played a key role in the development of quarterback Justin Fields. Fields achieved notable milestones, becoming the second-fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 2,000 rushing yards and joining the elite group of quarterbacks with over 1,000 rushing yards in a single season.
McGhee, a ten-year coaching veteran, joins the Saints after serving as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans. In 2023, McGhee contributed to Houston’s AFC South division title and Wild Card Playoff victory, overseeing the development of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and young wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell.
Williams, the new wide receivers coach, arrives in New Orleans after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2023, he worked as the assistant wide receivers coach, contributing to the team’s success in scoring and total offense. Williams, who also played wideout for San Diego State, has extensive coaching experience at the collegiate level and previously served as the wide receivers coach for the AAF’s San Antonio franchise.
