Saints Add Former Packers James Willis to Coaching Staff

The New Orleans Saints announced on Wednesday that they've hired former Packers linebacker James Willis as an assistant coach.

According to the team's official website:

Willis, who enjoyed a seven-year NFL playing career with three teams is a 14-year coaching veteran who joins the Saints after spending the past two seasons as defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Willis molded the Ragin’ Cajuns into one of the top defensive units in the Sun Belt Conference as they captured two consecutive R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowls. Willis, who spent two years as defensive coordinator with the Virginia Destroyers in the United Football League, was the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech in 2010 and was associate head coach/linebackers coach at Alabama in 2009 as the Crimson Tide won the national championship in a 14-0 season and All-American Rolondo McClain claimed the Butkus Award. Prior to his stint in Tuscaloosa, Willis tutored linebackers at Auburn (2006-08), Temple (2005) and Rhode Island (2004-05). He started his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater, Auburn, in 2001 as a student assistant, serving as a defensive graduate assistant in 2003. The Huntsville, Ala. native spent seven seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers (1993-94), Philadelphia Eagles (1995-98) and Seattle Seahawks (1999). His playing career concluded in 2001 with the Birmingham Thunderbolts of the XFL where he was the league’s defensive MVP.

Willis was a fifth round draft choice of the Packers in 1993. He becomes the third former Packers player to join the coaching staff of another NFL team since the Super Bowl.

Ex-Packers safety Marquand Manuel has been hired by the Atlanta Falcons while former cornerback Tim Lewis has been caught on with the San Francisco 49ers.

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