The New Orleans Saints will obviously not be participating in Super Bowl LIX. Held in their home city, the Saints chances to make it to the big game were realistically gone before the midway point of the year.
Super Bowl LIX will be a matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Roger Goodell's Kansas City Chiefs. These teams also faced off two years ago in Super Bowl LVII, a 38-35 Kansas City victory.
This will be the 11th time the Super Bowl is held in New Orleans, tying it with Miami as the most for a host city. It will be the 8th time the game is played in the Superdome, more than any other stadium.
While the Saints won't be playing in this year's Super Bowl, the game will be a homecoming of sorts for some involved in the game. Here are some key members of the Eagles and Chiefs with ties to the Saints that will play a major role in the outcome of Super Bowl LIX.
Kansas City Chiefs
• Steve Spagnuolo, Def. coordinator
Steve Spagnuolo, Defensive Coordinator
Spagnuolo is arguably one of the top defensive coordinators in NFL history. He's in his sixth year in that role with Kansas City. In 2024, his Chiefs defense was fourth in points allowed and held top-10 rankings in every major defensive category.
Over a decorated 26-year NFL career, Spagnuolo has been a part of six conference championship teams and four Super Bowl champions. His defenses have often had great success with its attacking style and athleticism at all three levels.
When Roger Goodell's unfounded 2012 Bountygate ''investigation'' resulted in the suspensions of Payton and DC Gregg Williams, Spagnuolo was brought in to coach the defense. He was with the Saints just that one year.
Under Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator, New Orleans finished 31st or last in total defense, points allowed, passing yards, rushing yards, and rushing average. When Sean Payton returned in 2013, Spagnuolo was replaced with Rob Ryan.
Philadelphia Eagles
• Zack Baun, LB
• Vic Fangio, Def. coordinator
• C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S
• Doug Nussmeier, asst. Coach
Zack Baun
A third-round choice in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin, Baun was never a fit in the New Orleans defensive scheme. He appeared in 62 games in four years for the Saints. However, he started only 14 times and played an average of only 16% of the defensive snaps per season.
Baun's last year with the Saints was his best. His interception, 2 sacks, and 8 QB pressures earned him a contract with the Eagles. Much to the dismay of New Orleans fans, he's fared much better in Philadelphia.
Baun had 3.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss among 151 total tackles for the Eagles, also adding an interception and five forced fumbles. A square peg for a round hole in New Orleans, Philadelphia used Baun's limited range well enough to earn All-Pro honors.
Vic Fangio
One of the reasons why Baun had such a successful year is because Philadelphia's defense was run by one of the best defensive coaches in league history. The well-traveled Fangio, 66, is in his first year as the Eagles defensive coordinator.
Philadelphia was 14-3 this season. Their defense ranked 1st in total yardage allowed and second in points surrendered. The Eagles were the league's best against the pass while also owning top-5 rankings on third downs, in red zone efficiency, turnovers forced, and sacks recorded.
An NFL coach since 1986, Fangio has worked for 10 different teams over a 38-year stretch. His longest-tenured stop was with the New Orleans Saints, where he served as defensive coordinator from 1986 to 1994. Under Fangio, New Orleans annually had one of the NFL's best defensive units.
Most famously, Fangio oversaw and helped develop The Dome Patrol. The ferocious foursome of linebackers included two Hall of Famers in Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills, another that should be in the Hall of Fame in Pat Swilling, and an underrated Pro Bowler with Vaughan Johnson.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
A fourth-round pick by the Saints in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Florida, Gardner-Johnson made an immediate impact as a rookie. He was with the Saints through the 2021 campaign as an important and versatile part of their defense.
Over four years with New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson had five interceptions, broke up 31 passes, recorded 3 sacks,, and had 15 tackles for loss among 161 total stops.
A contract dispute during the 2022 preseason led to a trade to the Philadelphia Eagles. Gardner-Johnson's six interceptions with the Eagles in 2022 led the NFL.
After one year with Detroit, Gardner-Johnson returned to Philadelphia this past offseason. He led the Eagles with six interceptions and his 12 passes broken up were second on the team.
Doug Nussmeier
Nussmeier, 54, is completing his first season as QB coach for the Eagles. Philadelphia's passing attack ranked just 29th, but QB Jalen Hurts is looked at as one of the league's more versatile weapons at the position.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Nussmeier was on the offensive staff of the Chargers, Cowboys, and Rams in the NFL along Florida, Michigan, Alabama, Washington, Fresno State, and Michigan State in the collegiate ranks. He was also an NFL quarterback from 1994 to 1999.
Nussmeier was a 1994 fourth-round draft choice of the Saints out of Idaho. He was with the Saints until 1997. Nussmeier appeared in five games for New Orleans, starting one contest in 1996 and one in 1997, both losses. He had a 56.1% completion percentage for 455 yards with one touchdown pass and four interceptions.
Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles is on February 9 at the Caesars Superdome. The Eagles are the designated home team, while the Chiefs are classified as the visiting squad.
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