AP source: Spagnuolo to take over Saints' defense

[January 20, 2012]  METAIRIE, La. (AP) -- Former St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has agreed to take over as defensive coordinator for with the Saints.

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday about the hiring on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not announced it.

Spagnuolo, 52, was head coach in St. Louis the past three seasons and was fired in January after going 10-38 with the Rams. Before that he was defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, a stint that included a Super Bowl upset of the New England Patriots.

Gregg Williams, who was New Orleans' defensive coordinator the past three seasons, has joined Jeff Fisher's new staff in St. Louis.

Spagnuolo's Rams were one of three teams to beat New Orleans during the 2011 regular season.

Spagnuolo's defense in St. Louis ranked 22nd this season, but the unit was stellar against the Saints, sacking Drew Brees six times and intercepting him twice in the most lopsided loss the Saints had all season.

Before taking over in St. Louis, Spagnuolo had top 10 defenses with the Giants in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. His 2007 defense led the NFL with 53 sacks and the 2008 unit was sixth in the league with 42.

In the Giants' 2008 Super Bowl triumph over New England, their defense sacked Tom Brady five times and the Patriots, who had led the NFL with an average of 36.8 points per game, to only 14 points.

Before joining the Giants, Spagnuolo was a defensive assistant in Philadelphia from 1999-2006. He coached Pro Bowl players including Brian Dawkins and Lito Sheppard, and helped Philadelphia field a 10th-ranked defense in the 2004 season, when the Eagles made it to the Super Bowl before falling to New England.

[Associated Press; By BRETT MARTEL]

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