Through the first four weeks of the season, the New Orleans Saints have laid claim to one of the NFL’s most disappointing offenses.
And as a result, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael’s future with the franchise has come into question, with Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reporting that he could be on the hot seat if the Saints offense doesn’t see progress soon.
“Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada and Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael have received the support of their head coaches publicly,” Rapoport wrote on Sunday. “But if production doesn’t ramp up, their respective seats will be hot, based on conversations with sources close to the situation.”
Entering Sunday’s Week 5 matchup against the New England Patriots, New Orleans’ offense ranks 25th in scoring (15.5 points per game) and 23rd in yards (285.3 per game). After winning their first two games of the season, the Saints have since dropped two straight and trail the 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South.
New Orleans entered the 2023 campaign with lofty expectations following the offseason acquisition of former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. The four-time Pro Bowl selection, however, has been limited by a shoulder injury, while star running back Alvin Kamara missed the first three games of the season due to a suspension.
The 51-year-old Carmichael has been a member of the Saints’ coaching staff since 2006 and has served as the team’s offensive coordinator since 2009. He took over as New Orleans’ primary play-caller in 2022 following the departure of former head coach Sean Payton.
[NFL.com]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.