The Saints lose a coaching rising star and offensive line guru. Evans' departure to Pittsburgh leaves a void, a true loss for the Black and Gold.
For New Orleans Saints fans, the sight of Jahri Evans in anything other than Black and Gold has always felt like a glitch in the Matrix. Even when he briefly donned a Green Bay Packers jersey at the twilight of his playing career, he remained "ours." But news that the legendary guard is leaving the Saints’ coaching staff to join Mike McCarthy’s new staff with the Pittsburgh Steelers feels like a different kind of departure. One that leaves a significant void in the building at 5800 Airline Drive.
The Anchor of an Era
To understand why this stings, you have to remember what Evans represents. He wasn't just a fourth-round pick from Bloomsburg who "made good", he was the tectonic plate upon which the most prolific era of Saints football was built.
- The Resume: 6 Pro Bowls, 4 First-Team All-Pros, and a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
- Evans played 11 of his 12 professional seasons in New Orleans, missing just seven of a possible 176 games in his time.
- The Reliability: He started 169 games for the Saints anchoring a solid offensive line that kept Drew Brees upright during the 2009 Super Bowl run.
- The Hall of Fame Path: Evans is currently a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, and is arguably the greatest interior lineman to ever wear the uniform.
From the Trenches to the Chalkboard
When Evans returned to the Saints in 2022 as a coaching intern, it felt like the natural order of things. Great players don't always make great coaches, but Evans’ cerebral approach to the game made him an immediate asset. He worked his way up to Assistant Offensive Line Coach, serving as a connective bridge between the glory days of the past and the rebuilding efforts of the present.
Losing him to Pittsburgh is losing a piece of the team’s soul and a premier mentor for young talents like Taliese Fuaga.
Why the Steelers?
The move is technically lateral—he’ll serve as the Assistant OL Coach under veteran James Campen—but the context is key.
- Reunion: Evans played for Mike McCarthy in Green Bay (2017) and worked under Campen there as well. The familiarity is undeniable.
- Homecoming: A Philadelphia native and Bloomsburg alum, this move brings Evans back to his Pennsylvania roots.
- The McCarthy Project: With McCarthy taking the reins in Pittsburgh after the Mike Tomlin era, he is clearly prioritizing "football guys" with championship pedigrees.
The Fairwell
The Saints are in a period of transition, but Evans was one of the few constants. While we can’t fault a man for pursuing a new challenge (or moving closer to home), it’s hard not to feel like the Saints let a future Hall of Famer—and a rising coaching star—slip through their fingers.
“Jahri is grateful for his time with the Saints and is thankful to (general manager) Mickey Loomis and the rest of the organization for the opportunity they gave him,” said by his agent, Jerrold Colton. “This is a great opportunity for Jahri to return to his home state and work with Mike McCarthy and James Campen again for one of the most respected organizations in the league.
"His heart will always be with New Orleans. He is forever a Saint.”
Pittsburgh is getting a man who knows exactly what a championship offensive line looks like. New Orleans, meanwhile, just lost one of its greatest ever teachers.