The New Orleans Saints are bringing back former wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson to fill the same role once again, according to ESPN reporter Mike Triplett.

Triplett is also reporting, through sources, the hiring of former Washington Redskins special teams assistant Bradford Banta as a special teams coach, joining Kevin O'Dea, who remains on the Saints staff as an assistant special teams coach.

Johnson, who was with the Saints as wide receivers coach from 2006-11, including the 2009 season, when the franchise won Super Bowl XLIV, left his job with the Chicago Bears.

A native of Laplace, Johnson left the Saints after the 2011 season to become the head coach of the Tulane Green Wave, where he guided his team to a 15-34 record over four years, including an appearance in the 2013 New Orleans Bowl, where they fell to Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns, 24-21.

The 55-year old Johnson, who spent one season with the Bears, is back home.

Banta, born in Baton Rouge, was an NFL tight end and long snapper for 11 seasons in the NFL.

Following his playing days, Banta worked in construction and finance for a few years before breaking into coaching as an assistant at Tennessee-Chattanooga.

From there, he worked his way into the NFL as an assistant with the Lions before landing with the Redskins.

With the hiring of Johnson and Banta, the Saints coaching staff has one vacancy at defensive line coach.

 

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