Terry Joseph
Defensive Pass Game Coordinator, New Orleans Saints (NO).
Quick Facts
- Role: Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
- Team: New Orleans Saints (NO)
- NFL experience: Not listed
- Reports to: Kellen Moore (Head Coach)
- Coaching tree: see Coaching Trees
Background
A 20-year coaching veteran, including 19 in the collegiate ranks, Terry Joseph enters his second season as the Saints defensive pass game coordinator. The New Orleans native works with the team's safeties.
Scheme & Fantasy Angle
Joseph helped usher two new starting safeties into the 2025 lineup for a defense that finished fourth in the NFL in opponent net passing yards per game. Justin Reid anchored the secondary with 72 tackles and a pick-six, while rookie Jonas Sanker led the group with 78 stops and three takeaways, earning ESPN.com All-Pro honors.
2026 Outlook
The Athletic named Joseph as a 2026 breakout coaching candidate following the Saints' defensive turnaround in the second half of 2025. His teaching ability—particularly with defensive backs navigating Brandon Staley's "vision and break" coverage principles—has been critical to developing younger players like Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, and Jonas Sanker. Joseph's work communicating complex scheme requirements to players has drawn national recognition. A strong defensive year in 2026 could create promotion opportunities or coordinator roles elsewhere (per The Athletic names Saints' assistant coach as 2026 breakout candidate).