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Report: Saints Fire Five Assistant Coaches

Five Saints assistants were reportedly released Thursday, including Joe Vitt and Greg McMahon among others.

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints have overhauled the coaching staff Thursday, firing assistant head coach/LBs coach Joe Vitt, special teams coordinator Greg McMahon and his assistant Stan Kwan, defensive line coach Bill Johnson, and assistant coach/LBs James Willis, per Alex Marvez.

The news was corroborated by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, who included a not so hot take.

Vitt joined the Saints as an assistant to Sean Payton since his arrival in 2006 and served as the interim head coach for 12 games in 2012, during Payton’s suspension stemming from the infamous Bountygate. Assistant LBs coach and former player James Willis, was released after two seasons.

Greg McMahon also joined the Saints in 2006 as the assistant special teams coach under then special teams coordinator John Bonamego before being promoted to coordinator in 2008. Veteran assistant special teams coach Stan Kwan was released after four seasons with the club.

Louisiana native Bill Johnson formerly coached with the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos before landing in New Orleans in 2009. Fox 8 Reporter Garland Gillen reported that Johnson simply didn’t re-up and that the parting was mutual.

Former Saints LB Scott Shanle posted a statement about his former coaches on his Twitter.

That’s all we have for now, folks. We’ll be sure to keep you posted on any new developments as they emerge. I didn’t want to write it myself, so I’ll just leave you with this last little nugget via Jeff Duncan.