SAINTS vs. BEARS CONNECTIONS
New Orleans Asst. Defensive Backs Coach Robert Blanton played at Notre Dame from 2008-11.
New Orleans Asst. Linebackers Coach Adam Gristick played at Eastern Illinois from 2010-14 and served on the coaching staff from 2018-22, as linebackers coach all five years, adding the title of run game coord. in 2020 and serving as defensive coord. in 2022.
New Orleans Defensive Pass Game Coord. Terry Joseph served on the Notre Dame coaching staff from 2018-20, the last two as defensive passing game coord. and all three as defensive backs coach.
Saints Offensive Coord. Doug Nussmeier spent part of 1999 training camp with the Bears.
New Orleans Edges Coach Jay Rodgers spent six seasons (2015-20) as defensive line coach of the Bears.
Saints Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley received his NFL coaching start as outside linebackers coach with the Bears from 2017-18.
New Orleans Quarterbacks Coach Scott Tolzien was an All-State and All-Academic selection at William Fremd High School in Palatine, Ill.
Saints CB Rejzohn Wright's older brother, Nashon Wright, plays for the Bears.
Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen served on the Saints coaching staff from 2006-10 and from 2015-24, serving as defensive coordinator from 2015-21 and head coach from 2022-24.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos kicked at Tulane from 2010-13, where he was the 2012 Lou Groza Award winner, given to the nation's top kicker.
Saints linebacker Nephi Sewell is the older brother of Chicago linebacker Noah Sewell.
Bears Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle served on the Saints coaching staff from 2019-22.
Bears Quarterbacks Coach J.T. Barrett played for the Saints from 2018-19.
Bears Running Backs Coach Eric Bieniemy is a New Orleans native.
Chicago Assistant Offensive Line Coach Kyle DeVan served on the Saints coaching staff in 2015.
Bears defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and outside linebacker D'Marco Jackson both previously played for New Orleans.
Chicago Assistant Defensive Backs/Safeties Matt Giordano played for the Saints in 2010 and served on their defensive coaching staff from 2023-24.
Nussmeier, Tolzien, Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore and Tight Ends Coach Chase Haslett served on the same Cowboys staff with Bears pass game coordinator/defensive backs Al Harris in Dallas.
Bears Senior Defensive Assistant/Defensive Line Bill Johnson prepped at Neville (Monroe, La.) HS, played at Northwestern State, coached at his alma mater, McNeese State, Louisiana Tech and LSU and served as Saints defensive line coach from 2009-16.
Chicago Offensive Line Coach Dan Roushar served on the Saints coaching staff from 2013-22 and also was on Tulane's coaching staff from 2023-24.
New Orleans Run Game Coordinator T.J. Paganetti served on the same Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff as Bears Passing Game Coordinator Press Taylor from 2013-14 and 2017-20.
Taylor also tutored Saints offensive lineman Luke Fortner, when he was offensive coordinator in Jacksonville from 2022-24.
Saints punter Kai Kroeger prepped at Lake Forest (Ill.) HS.
Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, linebacker Danny Stutsman and Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams were college teammates at Oklahoma.
New Orleans tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and linebacker Jaylan Ford were teammates of Chicago running back Roschon Johnson at Texas.
Saints Wide Receivers Coach Keith Williams tutored Bears wide receiver Devin Duvernay in Baltimore from 2021-23.
Fortner and Duvernay were teammates in Jacksonville in 2024.
New Orleans tight end Jack Stoll, Bears wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and safety Kevin Byard were teammates in Philadelphia in 2023.
New Orleans defensive back Ugo Amadi, offensive lineman Dillon Radunz and Byard were teammates with the Tennessee Titans.
Saints kicker Blake Grupe kicked for Notre Dame in 2023.
New Orleans tight end Juwan Johnson and Bears center Ryan Bates were college teammates at Penn State.
New Orleans safety Justin Reid and Bears center Drew Dalman were college teammates at Stanford.
Reid played with Chicago guard Joe Thuney in Kansas City from 2022-24.
Saints linebacker Pete Werner and defensive end Chase Young played with Bears offensive lineman Jonah Jackson at Ohio State in 2019.
Young and Bears defensive end Montez Sweat were teammates with the Washington Commanders from 2020-23.
New Orleans tackle Ozzy Trapilo is the son of late New Orleans offensive lineman Steve Trapilo.
New Orleans cornerback Alontae Taylor and Chicago tackle Darnell Wright were college teammates at the University of Tennessee.
Saints tight end Foster Moreau and Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings were teammates with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.
Saints defensive end Chris Rumph and Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell were college teammates at Duke.