The New Orleans Saints have fired five members of their coaching staff, among them is assistant head coach and linebackers coach Joe Vitt, a source told Alex Marvez of sportingnews.com.
Special teams coordinator Greg McMahon, defensive line coach Bill Johnson, assistant special teams coach Stan Kwan, and defensive assistant/linebackers coach James Willis were also dismissed.
Vitt has spent a decade as head coach Sean Payton's second-in-command. He was the team's interim head coach in 2012 when Payton was suspended, though he too served a six-game ban for his actions in the "Bountygate" scandal.
The shakeup indicates that Payton will stay in New Orleans amid speculation he could be traded to the Los Angeles Rams. He said Monday he "definitely" intends to coach the Saints next season and beyond.
