Zach Strief returns in 2022 for his second season as assistant offensive line coach.
A 12-year veteran on the offensive line for the Saints, Strief originally entered the NFL and joined the club as the first of two seventh round picks (210th overall) in 2006 out of Northwestern University. Strief appeared in 158 regular season games with 93 starts from 2006-17, then the 11th-most games played by a Saint in franchise history, third among offensive linemen. He also appeared in ten postseason games, then tied for second in club record books, with four starts.
The Cincinnati native opened 87 regular season games and four postseason contests at right tackle from 2011-17. During this period, the Saints ranked first in total offense overall, ranking first in three of those seasons (2011, 2014 and 2016), second three times (2012-13 and 2017) and fourth in 2013. During his tenure as a starter, he led the way for the top four single-season net yards per game totals in team history. He also served as an offensive team captain five times.
Strief anchored Northwestern's offensive line his final three seasons from 2003-05, starting 40 games at right tackle. He was recognized as a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and was consensus second-team All-Big Ten as a senior. Strief was a key performer on a record-setting offense that averaged more than 500 net yards per game and ranked fourth nationally, when he was a second-team All-Big Ten selection. Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Strief served as the team's radio play-by-play announcer from 2018-20.
PLAYING CAREER: Northwestern, 2001-05; New Orleans Saints, 2006-17.
COACHING CAREER: New Orleans Saints, 2021-.
