Michael Hodges enters his fifth season as linebackers coach. Hodges was originally hired by the Saints in the 2017 offseason as a defensive assistant and spent one season as assistant linebackers coach in 2019.
2023 saw Hodges working with the starting veteran trio of Demario Davis, Pete Werner and Zack Baun, which contributed to New Orleans ranking eighth in the NFL in scoring defense and tenth against the pass. Davis led the team in tackles on the season for the sixth consecutive year (121) and becoming only the second Saint to reach the century mark in stops in six seasons. Davis also put on a strong performance in pass rushing, ranking second on the team and tying his 2022 career-high with 6.5 sacks. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season and voted an Associated Press All-Pro (second-team) for the fifth straight campaign. Werner ranked second on the team with 93 tackles (60 solo) and tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries. Baun developed at the Sam position, where he finished with 27 tackles and recorded the first two sacks of his career and his first interception.
In 2022, Davis was again one of the Saints' most productive defensive players. He led the team for the fifth consecutive season in tackles (109) and set a career-high with 6.5 sacks, leading all inside linebackers in the NFL. Davis was selected to the Pro Bowl Games for the first time and as an AP second-team All-Pro. Werner started 11 of the 12 games in which he played and contributed 79 tackles (55 solo) and two forced fumbles. Fourth-year linebacker Kaden Elliss, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Hodges' tutelage, starting 11 of the 17 games he appeared in and posted 74 tackles, seven sacks to lead the position group and rank second on the team and two forced fumbles.
Under Hodges' guidance in 2021, Davis led the team with 105 tackles (70 solo), three sacks and seven passes defensed as he was selected as an AP second-team All-Pro. Kwon Alexander filled the stat sheet with 50 stops, 3.5 sacks, an interception, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Werner, a second round pick, finished with 59 tackles, while starting 8-of-15 games in his first professional season.
In his first season as linebackers coach, Hodges oversaw a position group where Davis posted a team-leading 119 tackles, four sacks and six passes defensed as he was selected as an AP second-team All-Pro. Alexander was able to carve out a role in the Saints defense following a midseason trade, starting all eight games he played in, tying for the team lead with two fumble recoveries.
In 2019, Hodges' assistance with the linebackers featured solid production from the position group. Davis was selected as an AP first-team All-Pro, leading the team with 111 tackles, four sacks, one interception and a career-high 11 passes defensed.
Hodges arrived in New Orleans after serving on the coaching staff at Eastern Illinois from 2014-16. From 2014-15, Hodges tutored linebackers. In 2016, he was elevated to co-defensive coordinator, also coaching the safeties. Hodges came to EIU after serving two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Fresno State, where he coached inside linebackers and assisted with film breakdown, scouting and game preparation.
Hodges played linebacker at Texas A&M where he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior when he led the Aggies in tackles and honorable mention as a junior after beginning as a walk-on. He was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and was named a first-team Academic All-American in 2010. He graduated in 2010 and earned his master's in 2011. He was presented with the 2010 Heart Award, which is the highest honor for a Texas A&M senior football player.
PLAYING CAREER: Texas A&M, 2008-11.
COACHING CAREER: Fresno State, 2012-13; Eastern Illinois, 2014-16; New Orleans Saints, 2017-.
