Kris Richard - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Request Interview With Joe Whitt For DC Position

January 27th, 2022 at 9:08am CST by Adam La Rose

Another name has been added to the list of Steelers targets for their vacant defensive coordinator role. Joe Whitt, the passing game coordinator/secondary coach for the Cowboys, has become the third external candidate for the position, according to Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper.

The team has recently asked to meet with Kris Richard, the Saints’ defensive back coach, to replace the now-retired Keith Butler. Prior to that, Giants DC Patrick Graham received an interview request from the Steelers as well.

Whitt is generating interest with multiple teams. Both the Seahawks and Ravens have put in requests to meet with the 43-year-old for their respective DC vacancies. The experienced DB coach has served on the staff of five different teams during his NFL coaching career, never holding a title higher than pass game coordinator. His role in helping the Cowboys’ defense become one of the league’s better units – rather than a liability, as it had been in recent years – has obviously earned him opportunities for a promotion either elsewhere, or perhaps in Dallas if DC Dan Quinn takes one of the many HC jobs he has interviewed for.

The Steelers still have secondary coach Teryl Austin as an option if they prefer to promote from within. While that is certainly a possibility at this point, the team is clearly doing its due diligence with regards to outside candidates.

Ravens Request DC Interview With Saints’ Kris Richard

January 25th, 2022 at 10:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

It has been a bit since Kris Richard worked as a defensive coordinator. He last did so in 2017, but two AFC North franchises are interested to see if the current Saints assistant fits the bill.

In addition to the Steelers’ request to interview Richard, the Ravens are interested in speaking with him about their DC vacancy, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Now that the Saints are set to interview Dennis Allen to replace Sean Payton, a promotion in New Orleans could be on the table soon.

Richard, 42, worked as the Seahawks’ DC from 2015-17, taking over for Dan Quinn. Richard stopped the line of Seattle DCs rising to HC jobs, a procession that included jumps for Quinn and Gus Bradley. Under the former Legion of Boom position coach, however, the Seahawks ranked in the top five defensively in both 2015 and ’16. Rather than rise to a coaching job, Richard instead trekked to Dallas for two seasons as Cowboys DBs coach.

Richard helped Byron Jones‘ transition to cornerback lead to a Pro Bowl nod but was not retained under Mike McCarthy. After taking the 2020 season off, Richard joined the Saints as their secondary coach. The Ravens have yet to hire a defensive coordinator from outside the organization, but interview requests for Richard and Cowboys DBs coach Joe Whitt Jr. show they are certainly considering it. The team already met with its D-line coach, Anthony Weaver, and has its 10-year DBs coach, Chris Hewitt, on the radar as well.

Steelers Request Permission To Interview Saints’ Kris Richard For DC Job

January 24th, 2022 at 9:38pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve got another candidate for the Steelers defensive coordinator vacancy. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Steelers have requested permission to interview Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard.

Richard served as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator from 2015-17, and then he was the passing game coordinator and defensive play-caller with the Cowboys from 2018-19. He spent 2020 out of the league before landing on Sean Payton’s staff in New Orleans.

During his lone season with the Saints, Richard helped guide the secondary to a standout season. The Saints defensive backs allowed the third-fewest touchdowns in the league, and the Saints finished with the sixth-most interceptions.

Steelers DC Keith Butler recently retired, and it was believed that the organization would fill the vacancy internally. If the organization goes that route, then senior defensive assistant/secondary coach Teryl Austin, who had been in Pittsburgh for the past three seasons, would likely earn the promotion. However, he’s seen competition from Giants DC Patrick Graham and now Richard.

Saints Hire Kris Richard To Staff

February 2nd, 2021 at 12:39pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Saints lost secondary coach Aaron Glenn when he left to become Dan Campbell’s defensive coordinator in Detroit, and now they’re bringing in a big name to replace him. New Orleans is hiring Kris Richard to be their new secondary coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

We just learned yesterday that Richard was talking to the Packers about their defensive coordinator job, but obviously he won’t be getting that gig. He also interviewed with the Raiders last month for the DC position that ended up going to Gus Bradley. Still only 41, Richard will have a lot more high-level experience than your typical secondary coach.

He served as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator from 2015-17, and then was the passing game coordinator and defensive play-caller with the Cowboys from 2018-19. A third-round pick by the Seahawks out of USC back in 2002, Richard spent six years in the league as a player with a few teams.

He spent 2020 out of the league before landing on Sean Payton’s staff. Current Saints DC Dennis Allen interviewed with the Eagles about their head coaching vacancy this cycle, and Richard could be a prime candidate to succeed him should Allen move on in the near future.

Packers Interview Kris Richard For DC

February 1st, 2021 at 11:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have discussed their defensive coordinator vacancy with Kris Richard, as Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets. He’s the latest candidate to surface for the job, joining Chargers assistant Joe Barry, Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero, and Washington defensive backs coach Chris Harris on the list.

Richard was one of the architects of the Seahawks’ famed Legion of Boom. After managing Seattle’s defensive backs, he was elevated to defensive coordinator in 2015. The ‘Hawks parted ways with Richard at the end of the 2017 season, prompting him to move on to the Cowboys as their DB/defensive passing game coach.

He didn’t get to stick around for Mike McCarthy‘s staff, however, and he spent the 2020 season out of football. Still, it wasn’t long ago that Richard was being considered for head coaching jobs and his overall track record is impressive.

Richard, who also interviewed with the Raiders before the hiring of Gus Bradley, would take over for Mike Pettine.

Raiders Interview Kris Richard For DC

January 8th, 2021 at 12:04pm CST by Rory Parks

The Raiders have interviewed Kris Richard for their defensive coordinator position, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (via Twitter). Richard is the second reported candidate for the job, joining Chargers DC Gus Bradley.

A DB coach with Seattle from 2010-2014, Richard was one of the architects of the club’s famed Legion of Boom, and he served as the ‘Hawks defensive coordinator from 2015-17. But Seattle elected to cut ties at the end of the 2017 campaign, and Richard moved on to the Cowboys as the defensive backs coach/defensive passing game coordinator. His first year in Dallas and the resume he built in Seattle garnered him plenty of attention as a potential head coach, and at one point he was even rumored to be the leading candidate for the Dolphins’ HC gig (which ultimately went to Brian Flores).

He was a casualty of the staff shakeup that took place when Mike McCarthy became the Cowboys’ head coach last year, and he spent the 2020 season out of football, though he did interview for the Giants’ HC job, and he received consideration for a spot on the 49ers’ defensive staff. He does not appear to be a HC candidate in this year’s cycle, but his track record should be enough to land him a high-level position.

If the 41-year-old were to become the Raiders’ DC and have success, he would almost certainly be right back on the short list of top head coaching prospects in 2022. Vegas’ defense was near the bottom of the league in terms of yardage and points allowed this season, and the unit is lacking in high-end talent.

On the other hand, young players like Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby have flashed, and the team will have a full complement of draft picks and a reasonable amount of cap space to improve. It’s possible that a new coordinator and a few new pieces can key a significant turnaround.

49ers Considering Kris Richard For Staff

January 31st, 2020 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

A previous candidate for HC jobs, Kris Richard is unattached presently after the Cowboys revamped their coaching staff. However, the former Seahawks defensive coordinator looks to be on the 49ers’ radar.

The 49ers are expected to lose secondary coach Joe Woods to the Browns, with whom he’s agreed to become DC. But they are on track to consider Richard for that position, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (h/t 49ersWebZone.com).

Mike McCarthy hired Mike Nolan to replace Rod Marinelli as Dallas’ DC and did not retain Richard, who spent two seasons with the Cowboys. A 49ers landing would make sense for the 40-year-old assistant, however. San Francisco uses a version of the Seattle defense, and Richard spent eight seasons with the Seahawks. His final three Seattle slates came as their defensive coordinator.

Richard, 40, coached Richard Sherman in each of the All-Pro cornerback’s seven Seahawks seasons. Under Richard in Dallas, Byron Jones became one of the NFL’s better cornerbacks and is on track for a lucrative free agency payday. Richard interviewed for three jobs in 2019 — with the Buccaneers, Dolphins and Jets — and met with the Colts about their HC job in 2018. He interviewed for the Bills job in 2017.

Richard and 49ers DC Robert Saleh coached on Pete Carroll‘s staff for three seasons together, 2011-13, with the former being slightly higher on the totem pole at the time. Saleh served as a defensive quality control coach from 2011-13, when Richard was spending time as a position coach. A reunion in San Francisco would almost certainly mean Richard serving as one of Saleh’s defensive assistants.

Cowboys Won’t Retain Kris Richard

January 13th, 2020 at 11:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys won’t retain defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach Kris Richard or quarterbacks coach Jon Kitna, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News hears. While new head coach Mike McCarthy looks to fill those vacancies, the shakeup could give Richard an opportunity to return to a defensive coordinator position elsewhere.

Richard was in the mix for the Giants’ head coaching vacancy and was a finalist for the Dolphins’ HC job last year, before that went to Brian Flores. And, before Jason Garrett was ousted in Dallas, many believed that Richard was next in line to take over as the Cowboys’ DC to eventually replace Rod Marinelli.

Richard’s fate was more or less sealed over the weekend when the Cowboys hired Maurice Linguist away from Texas A&M to manage their secondary. In other Cowboys news, safety Jeff Heath recently underwent shoulder surgery that could impact his Cowboys future.

Giants To Interview Kris Richard

December 30th, 2019 at 4:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Kris Richard is scheduled to interview with the Giants for their head coach vacancy on Thursday, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Richard, who was a finalist for the Dolphins’ job last year, could get a chance to run his own show.

Richard served as the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator for three seasons before his dismissal after the 2017 campaign. Since then, he’s been in Dallas, where he’s been rumored to be the heir apparent to DC Rod Marinelli.

Of course, everything is in flux for the Cowboys after they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. If Jason Garrett is fired, that could mean a move or two up the ladder for Richard. Or, it could mean that Richard will be out of a job altogether.

In addition to the aforementioned Dolphins interview, Richard also interviewed with the Jets and Bucs in the last cycle. This year, the Cowboys finished No. 9 in total defense and No. 11 in points allowed.

Cowboys Looking To Extend HC Jason Garrett

January 12th, 2019 at 12:44pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys are focused on tonight’s playoff matchup against the Rams, but they’ll shift their focus to extending their head coach whenever their season ends. Appearing on Good Morning Football, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said that the Cowboys intend to begin negotiating a long-term contract with Jason Garrett during the offseason (Twitter link).

Following the Cowboys lackluster start, there were whispers that the organization could look to move on from Garrett. Furthermore, we heard that the team hadn’t considered extending the 52-year-old. However, the Cowboys finished the regular season with a 7-1 record, and they won last week’s playoff matchup against the Seahawks.

The recent run apparently convinced the organization that Garrett was “their coach of the future.” The head coach’s contract is set to expire at the end 2019 campaign, but the team is hoping to extend him before that time. After having previously signed a five-year, $30MM contract, Rapoport expects Garrett’s next contract to be among the most lucrative in the entire game.

Garrett has been with the organization since 2007, and he took over head coaching duties in 2010 after the team fired Wade Phillips. Garrett has put together a 77-59 record during his tenure as head coach, leading the Cowboys to three playoff appearances.

Meanwhile, defensive backs coach and passing-game coordinator Kris Richard wasn’t able to get a head-coaching gig this offseason (although Rapoport notes that he was a finalist for the Dolphins gig). However, based on his quick ascension through the organization, many believe the Cowboys will make Richard their full-time defensive coordinator in 2019. Rod Marinelli is the Cowboys current defensive coordinator, but Rapoport could envision a scenario where the 69-year-old transitions to a senior defensive assistant role.