LSU coach Ed Orgeron has said that he’s looking for the right fit when he finds his next defensive coordinator to replace Bo Pelini.

But a report from Jane Slater of the NFL Network suggests that he has zeroed in on Ryan Nielsen of the New Orleans Saints. Slater reported that Nielsen met with Saints coach Sean Payton and told Payton that he intends to take the job at LSU.

Nielsen played under Orgeron at Southern Cal from 1997-2001. And if this hire goes through, it would be the second time Nielsen has coached under Orgeron. Nielsen was the defensive line coach at Ole Miss from 2005-07 under Orgeron.

The 2020 season was Nielsen’s his fourth as New Orleans’ defensive line coach.

Before the Saints, Nielsen from 2013-2016 was the defensive line/recruiting coordinator/run game coordinator at N.C. State. Before the Wolfpack, he coached at Northern Illinois from 2011-12, including a 2012 season where he was the co-defensive coordinator/defensive line/recruiting coordinator.

Nielsen also coached at Idaho, Tennessee-Martin and Central Connecticut State.