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A look back at the Mike Ditka hire. At the time, who did you want as the new head coach?
Posted on 5/22/21 at 2:06 pm
Posted on 5/22/21 at 2:06 pm
The Ditka podcast thread got me thinking of the hire of Mike Ditka back in 1997.
Anyone recall some of the younger, up-and-coming coaches at that time or who the Saints had their mind on to replace Mora/Venturi?
Anyone recall some of the younger, up-and-coming coaches at that time or who the Saints had their mind on to replace Mora/Venturi?
11
Posted on 5/22/21 at 2:53 pm to Paul Allen
One of the worst hires by the organization, took organization 3 yrs to recover from his RW draft give away!
Posted on 5/22/21 at 3:00 pm to Paul Allen
At the time, I remember Mike Ditka being a home run hire.
I don’t remember any up and coming guys, but I guess guys like Dave Campo, Gunther Cunningham, Pete Carroll and Dick Jauron would have been some of the big names. Maybe?
I don’t remember any up and coming guys, but I guess guys like Dave Campo, Gunther Cunningham, Pete Carroll and Dick Jauron would have been some of the big names. Maybe?
Posted on 5/22/21 at 3:01 pm to Paul Allen
I didn't have the internet until 1999, and got my info mainly from the T-P. I know I just wanted somebody from the Bill Walsh/West Coast offense coaching tree.
Posted on 5/22/21 at 4:25 pm to Paul Allen
Jim Henderson said Ditka was the best candidate at the time, since the other finalist was Lou Holtz.
Posted on 5/22/21 at 4:27 pm to Paul Allen
Wayne Fontes
Posted on 5/22/21 at 4:29 pm to GynoSandberg
This
Posted on 5/22/21 at 5:02 pm to GynoSandberg
I remember Rich Kotite being mentioned
Posted on 5/22/21 at 5:52 pm to Paul Allen
Looking at the coaching changes that year, Ditka was def one of the worst.
Dick Vermeil probably would have been the best hire but def a crapshoot that paid off for the Rams as he had been out of coaching for 15 years.
Dan Reeves had success for the dirty birds.
Steve Mariucci was a good hire for the 49ers
Bill Parcells never would have been hired for the Saints in 97
Jim Fassel had a good run with the Giants
Pete Carrol had success but not ready for the NFL at that time
Kevin Gilbride and Bobby Ross round out remaining hires with the Chargers and Lions respectively. Not great hires either but Ditka was so inept.
Overall the Saints lacked a great GM since Finks passed away. The front office was a mess and laughingstock until Loomis was hired. If one of these could have been hired instead of Ditka, I would have like Mariucci. I know Vermeil won the SB and had “Greatest Show on Turf” but who would have predicted that. He had not coached in 15 years.
Dick Vermeil probably would have been the best hire but def a crapshoot that paid off for the Rams as he had been out of coaching for 15 years.
Dan Reeves had success for the dirty birds.
Steve Mariucci was a good hire for the 49ers
Bill Parcells never would have been hired for the Saints in 97
Jim Fassel had a good run with the Giants
Pete Carrol had success but not ready for the NFL at that time
Kevin Gilbride and Bobby Ross round out remaining hires with the Chargers and Lions respectively. Not great hires either but Ditka was so inept.
Overall the Saints lacked a great GM since Finks passed away. The front office was a mess and laughingstock until Loomis was hired. If one of these could have been hired instead of Ditka, I would have like Mariucci. I know Vermeil won the SB and had “Greatest Show on Turf” but who would have predicted that. He had not coached in 15 years.
Posted on 5/22/21 at 6:52 pm to Paul Allen
Jon Gruden was hired by the Raiders a year later. He would've been a good, up and coming hire.
Andy Reid was hired by the eagles in 1999
Andy Reid was hired by the eagles in 1999
Posted on 5/22/21 at 7:52 pm to MasterKnight
Wow, that’s actually a solid list of coaches.
Posted on 5/22/21 at 8:05 pm to Paul Allen
Eh.. Mora was starting to lose a lot.
Then we had a horrible 1 year coach.
I really thought Ditka could do some damage since we were always a "defensive" team.
Keep playing solid defense and then just ride the legs of a good running back was Ditkas MO. Smashmouth football.
I liked it. At the time.
But damn did it implode into horse crap.
Then we had a horrible 1 year coach.
I really thought Ditka could do some damage since we were always a "defensive" team.
Keep playing solid defense and then just ride the legs of a good running back was Ditkas MO. Smashmouth football.
I liked it. At the time.
But damn did it implode into horse crap.
Posted on 5/22/21 at 11:49 pm to vilma4prez
Bruce Arians coached TEs for us in ‘96. In hindsight would’ve been a nice hire, he was only 45. He wouldnt get a head gig for 16 more years
Posted on 5/22/21 at 11:55 pm to vilma4prez
Ditka has hired former Saints wide receiver Danny Abramowicz as offensive coordinator and former New York Giants secondary coach Zaven Yaralian as defensive coordinator. Rick Venturi, who took over as the Saints' interim coach when Jim Mora resigned after a 2-6 start, will stay on as assistant head coach in charge of linebackers. Special teams coach Bobby April also will stay.
Did not remember him wanting richie petebon as his defensive coordinator. He turned him down.
Did not remember him wanting richie petebon as his defensive coordinator. He turned him down.
Posted on 5/23/21 at 11:14 am to GynoSandberg
quote:
Bruce Arians coached TEs for us in ‘96. In hindsight would’ve been a nice hire, he was only 45. He wouldnt get a head gig for 16 more years
I remember Bruce Arians as being a meh position coach/coordinator most places he went. If Chuck Pagano doesn’t get sick, I wonder if he’d have ever had a chance to be an NFL head coach, especially at the age he got hired.
Posted on 5/23/21 at 1:43 pm to lsutigers1992
Went to three Super Bowls with the Steelers and won two. His personality turned a lot of teams off and he had cancer a few times. His career is pretty interesting. Was the youngest HC in NCAA at Temple at 31, then didn’t get another HC gig until he was 61
Posted on 5/23/21 at 3:59 pm to Paul Allen
Wasn't Buddy Diliberto all for hiring Ditka? I guess Buddy would call himself a squirrel in this move.
Posted on 5/23/21 at 6:57 pm to Athis
Buddy D sucked off ditka daily on his show while mora was coaching.
Posted on 5/23/21 at 11:53 pm to lsutigers1992
Saw on Wikipedia that Bruce Arians was the offensive coordinator for Alabama in 97.
Had no clue.
Had no clue.
Posted on 5/24/21 at 12:15 am to Chalkywhite84
quote:
Zaven Yaralian
Was a legit DC.
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