Todd Grantham is set to leave his position with the New Orleans Saints to take on the role of defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, as announced by the Saints’ interim coach, Darren Rizzi, on Monday.

Grantham brings extensive experience to the college scene, having served as a defensive coordinator for various teams, including the Cleveland Browns in the NFL, as well as at distinguished college programs such as Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Florida.

Rizzi remarked, “He made the decision he wanted to get back into the college game. He’s obviously been a coordinator before at a couple of really good college programs. (Oklahoma State coach) Mike Gundy’s getting a great coach, and congratulations to Todd.”

While an Oklahoma State spokesperson refrained from commenting on the matter, it is clear that Grantham has prior experience coaching at a high level, which could benefit his new role significantly.

This season, Grantham started as the defensive line coach for the Saints. After Rizzi stepped in as interim coach following the dismissal of Dennis Allen, Grantham transitioned into a senior defensive advisor role, aiding the coordinator Joe Woods in crafting the defensive strategies for the team.

Rizzi praised Grantham’s contributions, stating, “He’s done a heck of a job here behind the scenes with the defensive staff. But it’s certainly a great opportunity for him.”

In his new position at Oklahoma State, Grantham will succeed Bryan Nardo and lead a defensive unit that struggled significantly last season, surrendering a whopping average of 500.6 yards per game—ranking them last in the Big 12 during a challenging 3-9 campaign.