Joel Thomas is heading back to the New Orleans Saints
The New York Giants are on the hunt for a fourth running backs coach in as many years as Joel Thomas, who held the role in 2024, in reportedly going back to the New Orleans Saints.
Thomas was running backs coach with the Saints from 2015-2023 before joining Brian Daboll’s coaching staff. He will now return to New Orleans to serve on the staff of newly-hired Saints coach Kellen Moore.
Thomas’s relationship with Purdue running backs coach Lamar Conard was instrumental in the Giants’ selecting running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. in Round 5 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Tracy compiled 1,123 yards from scrimmage as a rookie.
Jeff Nixon was the Giants’ running backs coach in 2023. He left after a year to become offensive coordinator at Syracuse.
DeAndre Smith held the job in 2022. He left to join Shane Steichen’s Indianapolis Colts staff after that season.
