One of the darkest days in the NFL is nearly here, when coaching staffs around the league get fired wholesale and the search begins for new head coaching candidates. Coaches will be dismissed as soon as Sunday night after the final Week 17 game is played, with interviews firing up the following Monday. Assistants will get interviews with new teams and ownership groups as their talent and experience gets considered. It wouldn’t be shocking in the least if several New Orleans Saints coaches get swept up in the next year’s hiring cycle.

The Saints made their own internal changes last offseason, discharging their entire special teams coaching staff and rebuilding it from the ground up. While they didn’t lose any coaches to other teams, it was a near thing — prominent assistants like defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, and tight ends coach/assistant head coach Dan Campbell each interviewed with interested teams.

It’s important to remember that teams aren’t looking to hire just head coaches. On average, seven or eight new coaches are hired each year to lead organizations, and they’ll look to fill out their staffs with other assistants from around the league — so it’s possible that lesser-known names in New Orleans get called in to interview for bigger positions with other teams.

For example, Saints offensive line coach Dan Roushar could get looks from other teams. His 32-year career as a coach speaks for itself, but his recent accomplishments include the scouting of draft prospects like Ryan Ramczyk and Erik McCoy, and the development of free agents such as Larry Warford (who was twice voted into the Pro Bowl in his first two years with the Saints). It’s surprising that Roushar hasn’t interviewed for any offensive coordinator jobs considering the sorry state of line play around the league.

Here are the Saints coaches who interviewed for open positions last year, and who could get hired away in just a few days:

Dennis Allen, defensive coordinator 2019 interviews: Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals

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Dan Campbell, tight ends coach/assistant head coach 2019 interviews: Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals

© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Pete Carmichael Jr., offensive coordinator 2019 interview: Green Bay Packers

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Mike Nolan, linebackers coach 2019 interview: Cincinnati Bengals

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Aaron Glenn, defensive backs coach 2019 interview: Cincinnati Bengals requested, blocked by Saints

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Hodges, assistant linebackers coach 2019 interview: Cincinnati Bengals

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