What a 24 hours it's been on Interstate 10 in Louisiana.
To play a quick catch-up: FootballScoop first reported Monday morning that LSU was interested in Ryan Nielsen as its next defensive coordinator. The move made all sorts of sense for both sides.
Nielsen is Ed Orgeron's protege, having coached him as a USC defensive tackle, worked over him when he was a volunteer assistant for the Trojans, and then employed him as defensive line coach when O was the head coach at Ole Miss. For Nielsen, well, the appeal was obvious. In addition to the opportunity to work with O again, LSU pays its coordinators extraordinarily well and we all saw what happened last time LSU hired a Saints assistant. Considering the talent returning and the rock-bottom performance under Bo Pelini in 2020, it will be very easy for the next LSU defensive coordinator to look very good very quickly in 2021.
We caveated in our report that Nielsen was under contract with the Saints and would need approval to even interview, even more so to take the job.
After our report, NFL Network then reported that the deal was done and Nielsen was headed up I-10 to Baton Rouge. Approval apparently granted.
Hours later, Nielsen's move to Baton Rouge was now in jeopardy.
Now, ESPN's Mike Triplett reports the Saints have flat out denied Nielsen permission to take the LSU job, but they're not keep him in New Orleans empty handed. He'll stay in Nola with a new contract and a promotion.
And now LSU's search for its third defensive coordinator in as many years rolls on.
In the meantime, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.