Brendan Nugent enters his second season under Head Coach Kellen Moore as offensive line coach for New Orleans in 2026 in his second stint with the club. A 22-year coaching veteran, including the last 13 seasons in the NFL, he previously served as the Saints' offensive line coach in 2021.
In his return to New Orleans in 2025, Nugent helped the offensive line overcome a rash of injuries to improve in both pass protection and run blocking as the season progressed. The line was anchored on the outside by rookie left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and second-year right tackle Taliese Fuaga. He played a key role in the development of Banks, the team's first round draft pick, who was a consensus All-Rookie selection after leading the Saints offense with 1,066 snaps played. Banks surrendered only four sacks, the fewest takedowns given up for rookie tackles who started at least 16 contests. Nugent returned to New Orleans after serving as assistant offensive line coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2024.
First joining the Saints as an offensive assistant in 2015, Nugent served as assistant offensive line coach (2017-20) and as offensive line coach (2021). In that five-season period, the Saints surrendered only 131 sacks, the lowest total in the NFL, tied for first with 103 rushing touchdowns, ranked second in points per game (27.9), eighth in rushing yards per game (124.6) and ninth in net yards per game (364.3). Left tackle Terron Armstead was selected to three Pro Bowls and was a second-team Associated Press All-Pro in 2018. After being selected PFWA All-Rookie in 2017, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk was a three-time All-Pro from 2018-20 (first-team in 2018). Guard Larry Warford was a Pro Bowler from 2017-19 and center Max Unger was selected in his final season in 2018. Center Erik McCoy, who has developed into a two-time Pro Bowler and the anchor of the Saints line, was selected PFWA All-Rookie in 2019 under Nugent's tutelage. During the time period, running back Alvin Kamara led the NFL in total touchdowns (68), ranked third in rushing touchdowns (47) and led running backs with 373 receptions.
From 2022-23, Nugent served as offensive line coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, key in the development of Jamaree Salyer, who was thrust in as the starting left tackle as a rookie after an injury to All-Pro tackle Rashawn Slater. In his first two seasons (2022-23), and over 2,100 offensive snaps, Salyer was only called for six penalties (zero for holding).
In 2022, Nugent helped the Chargers offense rank third in net passing yards per game (296.6) and No. 9 in total offense (359.3 ypg.). The line protected quarterback Justin Herbert to become the first player in history to top 4,000 passing yards in each of his first three seasons and join Peyton Manning as the only players to throw 25 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons to begin a career. The unit blocked for a versatile offensive attack led by running back Austin Ekeler, who led the league for the second-consecutive campaign with 18 scrimmage touchdowns and set single-season career highs with 1,637 yards from scrimmage, 13 rushing touchdowns, 915 rushing yards and 107 receptions. His receptions total led all running backs, ranked fifth in the NFL overall, and tied for the second-most by a running back in a single season in NFL history.
Nugent spent the 2012 season as a special teams assistant/offensive quality control coach on the staff of Marc Trestman with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. That year, the Alouettes finished first in the CFL's East Division. Nugent then coached under Trestman as an offensive quality control coach with the Chicago Bears (2013-14).
A White Plains, N.Y. native, Nugent played linebacker at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After his college playing career, he broke into coaching at his high school alma mater, Archbishop Stepinac High, tutoring the team's linebackers.
Nugent went on to spend two years as an offensive assistant at Iowa (2005-06), helping the Hawkeyes reach the 2005 Outback Bowl and 2006 Alamo Bowl during his tenure, while also earning his bachelor's degree in political science in 2006. He then coached at William & Mary from 2007-11. In his five years with the Tribe, he tutored the tight ends (2007, 09), wide receivers (2008) and running backs (2010-11).
Nugent and his wife, Jenny, have four children: Addelynn, Declan, Maelie and Nolan.
PLAYING CAREER: Catholic University of America, 2001-03.
COACHING CAREER: Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) High School, 2004; Iowa, 2005-06; William & Mary, 2007-11; Montreal Alouettes (CFL), 2012; Chicago Bears, 2013-14; New Orleans Saints, 2015-21; Los Angeles Chargers, 2022-23; Seattle Seahawks, 2024, New Orleans Saints, 2025-.
