New Orleans Saints Name Vitt Interim Head Coach
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NFL via Getty Images(NEW ORLEANS) — The New Orleans Saints named assistant coach Joe Vitt the interim head coach Thursday, while Sean Payton serves a one-year ban for his role in the team’s bounty system.
The Saints are expected to tap offensive line coach Aaron Kromer to run the team while Vitt serves his six-game suspension, according to ESPN.
“It is important that we keep Sean Payton’s philosophy front and center during this season,” said Saints general manager Mickey Loomis in a statement. “Sean has been the driving force behind the tremendous success our team has enjoyed during the past six years, his leadership will be missed. But we need to set a course of action that gives us the best chance to win this season without our head coach, and that is why I am announcing today that Joe Vitt will assume Sean’s duties. We considered a number of great options to handle Payton’s duties both internally and externally, but believe this will provide the most seamless transition for our players and our coaching staff, allowing our offensive and defensive staffs to remain intact with the fewest changes.
Vitt went 4-7 while serving as interim head coach for the St. Louis Rams in 2005.
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