Coaches

Pete Carmichael is in his fourth season as the Saints’ offensive coordinator after tutoring the club’s quarterbacks the previous three years. Throughout this time he has been a key figure in the planning and preparations of an offensive attack that has been ranked first in the NFL in yardage in four of the last six seasons, while leading the league in scoring in 2008 and 2009.

Under Carmichael’s guidance in 2011, the Saints put together some of the best offensive numbers in league history as the team shattered several NFL and franchise single-season records.  After Head Coach Sean Payton suffered a leg injury in week six, Carmichael took over play-calling duties for the remainder of the season.  The Saints set NFL records in net yardage (7,474), passing yardage (5,347) and first downs (416), while also setting team marks and leading the league in third down conversion rate (56.7%) and third down conversions (118).    New Orleans finished with 547 points, the fourth-highest total in NFL history, and scored at least 45 points in four regular season games and one postseason contest, including three straight outputs of 45 points.  Individually, QB Drew Brees enjoyed one of the most prolific seasons by an NFL signal-caller as he completed 468-of-657 passes (71.2%) for 5,476 yards, 46 touchdown passes and a 110.6 passer rating, breaking NFL records for passing yardage, completions, 300-yard passing games (13) and completion percentage. As the passing attack reached new heights, Jimmy Graham had one of the most prolific seasons for an NFL tight end with a club-record 99 receptions for 1,310 yards with 11 touchdowns and WR Marques Colston had his fifth 1,000 yard season in six campaigns. A running game that was ranked sixth in the NFL flourished behind an offensive line that featured three Pro Bowl selections (T Jermon Bushrod, G Jahri Evans, G Carl Nicks), in addition to Brees and Graham.  

In 2010, the Saints finished third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL after averaging 372.5 yards of total offense, finishing third in the league in passing. The unit converted 48.8% of their third down conversions and ranked fifth in the NFL with 351 first downs.

In 2009, his first season with his new title, the Saints continued to compile impressive numbers on offense. The Saints finished in the top five in seven offensive categories. They scored an NFL-best 510 points. At least 45 points were scored four times, a fifth time in the postseason, with four straight outputs of at least 30. They ranked first in the league with 6,461 net yards, then the third-best total in club history. The Saints’ 348 first downs was the second-best total both in 2009 league rankings. The Saints also finished ranked sixth in the NFL in rushing yardage with 131.6 yards per game on 4.5 yards per carry.

The offense continued to flourish in the postseason, averaging 35.6 points per game and scoring eight-of-nine times inside the red zone. Brees keyed the run, completing 70.6 percent of his passes and throwing eight touchdowns and a 117.0 passer rating. He was selected the Super Bowl XLIV Most Valuable Player, as he led the Saints back from a ten point deficit, completing 18 of his last 19 passes and engineering the fourth quarter game-winning drive, culminating in the go-ahead touchdown pass with under five minutes left.

In 2008, Carmichael’s title was quarterbacks/passing game – with duties that included assisting in the pass routes, protection schemes and quarterback responsibilities. He tutored the signal callers his first three seasons with the club. In 2008, the offense went on to rank No. 1 in the NFL in passing, and Brees threw for 5,069 yards.

Carmichael has worked closely with Brees since both arrived in New Orleans in 2006, and since then the majority of the franchise’s career, single-game and single-season passing records have fallen. Brees has led the NFL in passing yardage three times, set the NFL record for completion percentage twice and has thrown for a club record 201 touchdowns over the last six seasons.

Carmichael brings the perspective of having a wide range of coaching experiences, including working with nearly every position group on offense during his career. With the Chargers, he assisted wide receivers coach James Lofton for an offense that ranked 10th in the NFL in 2004 and 2005. Carmichael joined the Chargers in 2002 and served as offensive assistant/quality control coach until being promoted.

In 2001, Carmichael was quality control coach for the Washington Redskins, and in 2000, he was the tight ends and offensive assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns. From 1995-99, Carmichael was the quarterbacks coach at Louisiana Tech, and during his tenure the Bulldogs’ QBs broke almost every passing record at the school. He began his coaching career as the assistant offensive line coach at the University of New Hampshire in 1994, with the Wildcats winning the Yankee Conference championship.

Born Oct. 6, 1971 in Framingham, Mass., Carmichael attended Medway (Mass.) High School where he played football and baseball. He went on to a collegiate playing career in baseball and was a four-year letterman at Boston College. As a senior, Carmichael was a team captain and Most Valuable Player. He graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1994.

Carmichael and his wife, Tina, have two sons, Peter and John, and a daughter, Allison.

COACHING CAREER: New Hampshire, 1994; Louisiana Tech,
1995-99; Cleveland Browns, 2000; Washington Redskins, 2001; San Diego
Chargers, 2002-05; New Orleans Saints, 2006-.