NEW ORLEANS — The Saints are planning to make 49ers passing game specialist Klint Kubiak their new offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
The Niners play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, and a deal cannot be finalized before that date.
The Saints have been looking for an offensive coordinator since moving on from longtime coordinator Pete Carmichael earlier this month. Carmichael is expected to join former Saints coach Sean Payton as an assistant with the Denver Broncos .
Although the Saints finished 11th in passing offense this season, they struggled to score in the red zone at times under quarterback Derek Carr . They elected to replace Carmichael and several other offensive assistants after missing the playoffs for the third straight season.
Kubiak is one of a number of coaches the Saints looked at for the vacant coordinator role. They also showed interest in former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, Baltimore Ravens wide receivers coach Greg Lewis, Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher, who was promoted to their coordinator role. Saints quarterback coach Ronald Curry was also a candidate.