"Holdover" and "survivor" are applicable, and "valuable" is probably the best fit, but none of those words come to Brian Young's mind.

"I just think I'm too stubborn to leave," he said, smiling.

Since Young, the New Orleans Saints assistant defensive line coach, transitioned from the Saints' roster (2004-08) to coaching staff (2009), he has coached under four head or interim head coaches.

Sean Payton originally hired the former defensive tackle, then Dennis Allen, Darren Rizzi and now Kellen Moore each kept Young on staff after Payton stepped down in 2021. Rizzi, during his interim stint last season, elevated Young from pass rush specialist coach to defensive line coach after Todd Grantham was dismissed.

"When I had a chance to take the job... there's always a lot of good going into an organization and you want to recognize all the good," Moore said.

"Change can be hard for everyone, but his name came up a number of times, from people who are inside the building, (and) people who are outside the building who may have had exposure to him. (About) the awesome teacher, coach, communicator that he is. I think he connects at a really high level with the players. I think he can lean into his experience as a player. It was just an awesome opportunity to keep him around."

It was just as easy for Young to want to stay.

"Honestly, I enjoy coming to work every day. I enjoy what I do," he said. "I do what I can to get these guys better — that's ultimately the goal, we want to win games. Just trying to keep things simple for these guys and trying to make it about how we do things, not necessarily what the opponents are doing, and trying to focus on technique and where to put their eyes and how to play the game the right way."

And there's no end for Young in sight. "As long as it continues to be fun, I'm happy. I think that's been the biggest thing. I don't mind the grind, I don't mind the hours — I've always been one that didn't sleep much, so that adjustment has never been the issue.

Defensive linemen have an obvious affinity for "Brother B.Y.," a nickname Young picked up last season and is used exclusively by edge rusher Cameron Jordan, the franchise all-time leader with 124 sacks.

"There was some video last year of a bunch of guys on this big motorcycle with, like, three engines on it. And they kept saying, 'Hey brother, hey brother,'" Young explained. "I've got my Harleys, and so they just started calling me 'Brother B.Y.'"

But clearly, Young isn't a novelty act. He currently owns the longest string of continuous service as a Saints coach. His coaching career predates the arrival of Jordan, who came as a first-round pick in 2011, and Jordan has absolute faith in Young.

Jordan totaled four sacks last season. All came in the last eight games, after Young was elevated to defensive line coach and Jordan's snap count increased.

"He's a football nerd. He loves breaking down film," Jordan said. "He loves finding these random tendencies for an offensive lineman or an offense in general And he gives these great nuggets, especially about how he used to play, not just the technique part but how to go about breaking through actual blocks. That's knowledge that helps to develop a lot of guys."

Young's nine-year playing career included 123 games, 22.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, nine passes defensed, an interception and 309 tackles.

"I think that helps out a lot. You can relay things to them a little differently from a player's perspective because you've played it and you kind of know how they're going to look at it and how they're going to see it," Young said. "Not necessarily how you may talk about it upstairs with all the coaches. Your ability to kind of put it in player talk makes it easier."

His coaching stretch is even more vast than his playing career: Intern (2009-10); defensive assistant (2011-12); defensive assistant/linebackers (2013); assistant linebackers (2014); outside linebackers (2015); pass rush specialist (2016-24); defensive line (2024); and assistant defensive line (2025).

But Young's never saw a coaching career coming.

"I always said I never would," he said. "When I had to retire, Sean had made the offer. I said 'Let me think about it' and I went home for a month, and I was just like, 'What am I going to do with myself?'

"I've got other businesses and I do other things — I've got cars, I love cars — but I've just never loved anything like I love football." Young had just signed a new, three-year deal with the Saints and had only played one before retiring. "(I decided) I'll stay on, I'll work for free for the next two years and if I like it and you want me here, then we'll go from there.

"I ended up loving it."

It doesn't totally sate his love for the game, a passion that contributed to 23 surgeries on his left knee and a knee replacement. But Young still gets to mix it up. What he gets isn't everything, but it's enough.

"I'm very hands on, I like getting out there and striking with cats and pressing on cats and having them work stuff," he said. "So you still get some of that. But nothing's ever going to compare.

"I loved playing football. I love the fight. The one-on-one, you-versus-me, one-of-us-is-going-to-win. That's what I love about playing the game. You still get a chance to do that, but now you do it through them."