From lineman to assistant coach in days, Will Clapp brings unique insight and local pride, filling a crucial coaching void for the Saints.
In the NFL, the transition from the gridiron to the headset usually takes years of "finding oneself" or a stint as a "consultant." But for Will Clapp, the gap between being a Saints lineman and a Saints coach was less than a week. Keeping a team favorite and hometown native in the city and on the roster is always a good thing fans love to see.
On Tuesday, just days after announcing his retirement following an eight-year career, the New Orleans Saints officially hired the hometown kid as an offensive assistant. While a seventh-round pick-turned-assistant coach might not grab the national headlines like a blockbuster trade, for those who follow the "Black and Gold," this is a move that drips with logic and local soul.
A Natural Transition
Most players enter the coaching ranks as blank slates. Clapp, however, has been "interning" for this job for the last year. After suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the 2025 preseason, Clapp didn't just disappear into the training room. He put on a headset and help manage the sidelines. A move you don't see too much of from an injured player, turning a negative situation into a "perspective" one is pretty amazing to see.
- The Bridge to Moore: Having played under Head Coach Kellen Moore with the Chargers, Clapp became the "translator" in the O-line room last season.
- The Veteran Ear: He spent 2025 asking the questions younger players were too afraid to ask and creating "cutups" for the film room.
- The Versatility Factor: You don’t survive eight years in the league as a seventh-rounder without being a "student of the game." Clapp played center, both guard spots, and even "jumbo" tackle. He understands the geometry of the entire line.
Filling the Jahri Evans Void
The timing is poetic. Earlier this offseason, the Saints lost legendary lineman and rising coaching star Jahri Evans to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Replacing a future Hall of Famer’s coaching presence is no small feat.
While Clapp doesn't have the All-Pro resume of Evans, he possesses the same "Saints DNA." He’s a New Orleans native, a Brother Martin alum, and an LSU Tiger. In a city where "who dat" is a lifestyle rather than a slogan, having a coach who understands the weight of the jersey is an intangible win for locker room culture.
A Low-Risk, High-Reward Hire
The Saints’ offensive line has been a point of contention and inconsistency over the last few seasons. By bringing in Clapp, Kellen Moore isn't just hiring a former player, but rather he’s hiring a strategic asset who already knows the personnel’s strengths and the playbook's intricacies. Having an assistant coach who understands the culture, playbook and locker room, is a high-reward asset that is priceless. He will have the opportunity to help shape the team of younger players during the rebuild.
"He’s a huge part of this. He’s an important part of our experience here," Moore said of Clapp during the 2025 season.
It’s rare to see a team move this decisively. It suggests that the Saints didn't just see Clapp as a retired veteran looking for work—they saw a coach who happened to still be wearing pads.