Phil Galiano enters his fourth season with the New Orleans Saints in 2022 as assistant special teams coach. Galiano is a veteran in the coaching ranks with 22 years of experience, including six seasons in the NFL.
In 2021, Saints special teams ranked fifth in NFL writer Rick Gosselin's comprehensive special teams rankings for the second consecutive season. Special teams ace J.T. Gray received his first career selection as a starter in the league's All-Star Game after leading the NFL with 19 special teams tackles and was also an AP first-team All-Pro. Linebacker Andrew Dowell, in his first full NFL season, tied for fifth in the league with 14 coverage stops and blocked a punt. Galiano helped prepare Blake Gillikin for his first season handling punting duties. Twenty-nine of Gillikin's punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, ranked fourth in the NFL and tying a team record. The Saints special teams unit ranked fourth in the NFL in opponent average starting position after kickoffs (24.1-yard line) and eighth in punt return average (10.0).
The 2020 season saw the Saints ranked fifth in Gosselin's annual rankings. They ranked first in opponent punt return average (2.3) and second in opponent kickoff return average (17.2), sixth in kickoff return average (25.4 avg.) and ninth in punt return average (10.2 avg.), while ranking third in opponent average starting position after kickoffs (23.8-yard line) and ninth in average starting position after kickoffs (25.9-yard line). Despite missing seven games with injuries, wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harty had a 12.2 punt return average and 27.3 kickoff return average. Kicker Wil Lutz (Week Five) and punter Thomas Morstead (Week One) each were named NFC Special Teams Player of the week once.
Phil Galiano Coaching Career
Team | Position Held | Years |
---|---|---|
Dickinson (College) | Outside linebackers coach | 2000 |
New Haven (College) | Outside linebackers coach | 2001 |
Villanova (College) | Offensive assistant | 2002 |
Rutgers (College) | Defensive graduate assistant | 2003 |
Rutgers (College) | Linebackers coach | 2004 |
Rutgers (College) | Defensive ends coach | 2005-06 |
Florida International (College) | Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach | 2007-09 |
Rutgers (College) | Defensive line coach | 2010 |
Rutgers (College) | Tight ends coach | 2011 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) | Assistant special teams coach | 2012-13 |
Rutgers (College) | Director of recruiting | 2014 |
Rutgers (College) | Special teams coordinator & tight ends coach | 2015 |
Miami Dolphins (NFL) | Special teams intern | 2016 |
Penn State (College) | Defensive consultant | 2017 |
Penn State (College) | Special teams coordinator & assistant defensive line coach | 2018 |
New Orleans Saints (NFL) | Assistant special teams | 2019-present |
New Orleans Saints defensive end