Payton plans 2-4 interviews for Saints' DC job: Ryan reportedly tops list
The New Orleans Saints are expected to hire Rob Ryan as their new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN.com.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune, however, reported that the deal might not be a lock. Meanwhile, Saints coach Sean Payton told ESPN Radio on Wednesday that he will interview two to four candidates for the job and that a decision will come within a week.
Payton also told ESPN Radio that he is awaiting permission to speak with position coaches from other teams.
According to the newspaper, the Saints will interview University of Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on Thursday, a day before they speak with Ryan.
NFL.com reported that former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel has emerged as a candidate. Crennel was previously a defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots and Chiefs.
The Saints have been seeking a new defensive coordinator since firing Steve Spagnuolo, with head coach Sean Payton stating the team's intention to moved to a 3-4 base scheme.
Ryan, the son Buddy Ryan and the brother of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, has spent decades coaching the 3-4 scheme.
Rob Ryan was fired as the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator last month, and said at the time, "I'll be out of work for like five minutes."
He came close to signing on as the St. Louis Rams' defensive coordinator before the talks broke down. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher issued a statement declaring it wasn't a good scheme fit.
Grantham, 46, has spent the past three seasons as at Georgia after a decade in the NFL. He was the Indianapolis Colts' defensive line coach from 1999-2001, the Houston Texans' defensive line coach from 2002-04, the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator from 2005-07, and the Cowboys' defensive line coach from 2008-09.
