Meet the 2024 New Orleans Saints coaches: Peter Giunta

In 2023, Giunta played an integral role in implementing Head Coach Dennis Allen’s and Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods’ scheme in the secondary along with secondary coach Marcus Robertson and defensive assistant Matt Giordano. As a team, the Saints forced 29 turnovers after recording only 14 in 2022, ranked fourth in the NFL. The team’s 18 interceptions, up from seven in 2022, were tied for third in the league, with 16 coming from the secondary. New Orleans led the NFL with 99 passes defensed, with three Saints ranked in the top 10. Under the guidance of Giunta, cornerback Paulson Adebo had a club-best six takeaways and ranked third in the NFL with 18 passes defensed. Safety Tyrann Mathieu tied for the team lead with Adebo with four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.

In 2022, Giunta worked with a Saints secondary that contributed to the New Orleans defense ranking fifth in the NFL in opponent net yards per game, with a stingy back end responsible for being ranked second in the league in opponent net passing yards per game and being tied for giving up the third-fewest touchdown passes (17) in the league. Giunta worked with veterans, such as safety Mathieu, while overseeing the development of second-round pick cornerback Alontae Taylor. Mathieu started every game, posted a career-high 91 tackles and led the Black and Gold with four takeaways. Taylor played in 13 games with nine starts and led the Saints with 11 passes defensed, fourth among rookies.

In 2021, Giunta worked to develop young contributors in the secondary, as well as enhance the performance of veterans. He helped develop third round draft pick Adebo, who was the only Saints defender to open all 17 contests in 2021, while tying for the team lead with three interceptions, second among NFL rookies. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore finished with a career-high 19 passes defensed, ranked third in the NFL, while being selected to his fourth Pro Bowl in his first five seasons. New Orleans was tied for sixth in the NFL with 18 interceptions, with 16 of them coming from the secondary. In addition to New Orleans finishing fourth in the NFL in scoring defense (19.7 points per game) and seventh in total defense (318.2 net yards per game), the Saints gave up the third-fewest touchdown passes (20).

In 2020, the secondary contributed to the Saints tying for third in the NFL in takeaways (26), first in interceptions (18), ranked fourth in total defense (310.9 ypg.), and fifth in opponent points per game (21.1) and opponent net passing yards per game (217.0 ypg.). Lattimore posted 62 tackles (52 solo), two interceptions and 11 passes defensed and was selected to his third Pro Bowl.

In 2019, Saints defensive backs recorded nine interceptions, 2.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Giunta assisted in the growth of fourth-year safety Vonn Bell, who totaled five regular season fumble recoveries – the most in the NFL and added another in the postseason. Safety Marcus Williams led the team with four interceptions. Lattimore became the first Saints cornerback to be selected to two Pro Bowls, leading the team with 14 passes defensed.

In 2018, New Orleans defensive backs recorded ten interceptions, three sacks, nine forced fumbles and six recoveries. Giunta aided in the continued development of Lattimore, who led the team with five takeaways in the regular season, adding two interceptions in the NFC Divisional Playoff win over Philadelphia.

Lattimore enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2017, starting all 13 games he appeared in and leading NFL rookies with a team-high five interceptions and tying for the rookie lead with a club-best 18 passes defensed as he was the youngest Saint (21 years old) ever selected to the Pro Bowl and the franchise’s first Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year. Safety Kenny Vaccaro filled up the stat sheet with 60 tackles (48 solo), 1.5 sacks, a career-high three interceptions, seven passes defensed and one fumble recovery.

Giunta served as the secondary/cornerbacks coach of the Giants from 2006-14, a period when New York captured two Super Bowl titles. The Salem, Mass. native was at the forefront in the development of several young cornerbacks and was instrumental in the success of numerous veterans.

Former LSU standout Corey Webster developed into an eight-year starter under Giunta’s watch and recorded 22 interceptions and four fumble recoveries in the regular season and postseason, including recording three takeaways in the 2007 playoffs all the way to a Super Bowl title. Webster’s pick of a Brett Favre pass set up the Giants’ game-winning field goal in overtime of the NFC Championship in Green Bay. In 2011, Webster opened all 20 regular season and postseason contests. Aaron Ross, the club’s first round draft pick in 2007, was inserted into the starting lineup midway through his rookie campaign and delivered three interceptions, one brought back for a score. Ross returned to the starting lineup in 2011 and finished tied for second on the team to Webster (six) with a career-high four picks. Giunta was instrumental in the development of cornerback Prince Amukamara, the team’s first round draft pick in 2011, who despite missing the last eight games with a biceps injury in 2014, had set a career-high with three interceptions through the first eight contests. In 2009, cornerback Terrell Thomas led the team with five interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, as New York ranked ninth in opponent net passing yards per game. Thomas was selected to the USA Today All-Joe Team.

Giunta was Kansas City’s defensive backs coach from 2001-05. In 2003, S Jerome Woods earned his first career Pro Bowl berth under his guidance, an impressive feat considering the fact that he missed the 2002 campaign with a broken leg. The Chiefs registered 25 interceptions to rank third in the NFL that season, as safety Greg Wesley and cornerback Dexter McCleon paced the team with six picks apiece.

Giunta joined the Chiefs after spending four seasons (1997-2000) with the St. Louis Rams, including the last three as defensive coordinator. Giunta served as the Rams’ assistant head coach under Dick Vermeil in 1998-99 after originally joining the staff as defensive backs coach in 1997.

As defensive coordinator, Giunta was responsible for the resurgence in a Rams defense that sparked the club’s unexpected run to a world championship in 1999. Those efforts culminated with a 13-3 regular season record and a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. Giunta’s unit led the league in rush defense in 1999, allowing just 74.3 yards per game, while ranking fourth in scoring defense (15.1 ppg.) and sixth in total defense (293.6 ypg.).

The Rams’ 1999 defense led the NFC and was second in the NFL with 29 interceptions. CB Todd Lyght tied for the league lead with six picks, earning his initial Pro Bowl berth in the process. St. Louis was also opportunistic, returning nine takeaways (seven interceptions and two fumbles) for touchdowns in 1999. Those turnovers were due in large part to a Rams pass rush, which racked up 57.0 sacks, a figure which tied for the league lead. The sack brigade was headlined by Pro Bowl defensive end Kevin Carter, who led the NFL with 17.0 takedowns.

Giunta’s has established a reputation for getting the most out of defensive backs. In 2000, McCleon intercepted eight passes, a total surpassed only by one player. In Giunta’s first season as defensive coordinator in 1998, St. Louis ranked third in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 176.9 yards per game. With Giunta serving as defensive backs coach in 1997 the Rams were second in the league with 25 interceptions, including an NFL-high nine by cornerback Ryan McNeil.

Prior to his stint with the Rams, Giunta spent two seasons as defensive backs coach for the New York Jets. In 1995, the Jets led the league in opponent net yards passing (171.3 yards per game). Giunta was instrumental in the development of cornerback Aaron Glenn, who would go on to be a three-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection.

Giunta entered the NFL as the defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1991-94. In 1991, the Eagles defense ranked first in the league in passing defense (150.8 yards per game), rushing defense (71.0 yards per game) and total defense (221.8 yards per game). That marked just the fifth time in NFL history and the first time since 1975 that a single team led the league in all three of those defensive categories. No team has equaled that feat since the 1991 Eagles.

Giunta’s ten seasons in the college ranks began at Penn State (1981-83). He was a defensive assistant his first year before coaching the tight ends in his final two seasons. While he was at Penn State, the Nittany Lions won the 1982 National Championship with a 27-23 victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Penn State won three bowl games during Giunta’s tenure.

Following Penn State, Giunta moved to Brown (1984-87), where he coached tight ends and wide receivers before becoming the offensive coordinator (1986-87). He then joined the staff at Lehigh (1988-90), where he was responsible for tight ends and wide receivers.

After a four-year playing career as a defensive back and running back at Northeastern (1974-77), Giunta began his coaching career in Massachusetts, where he was an assistant coach at Swampscott High School from 1978-80.

PLAYING CAREER: Northeastern, 1974-77.

COACHING CAREER: Swampscott (Mass.) High School, 1978-80; Penn State, 1981-83; Brown, 1984-87; Lehigh, 1988-90; Philadelphia Eagles, 1991-94; New York Jets, 1995-96; St. Louis Rams, 1997-2000; Kansas City Chiefs, 2001-05; New York Giants 2006-14; New Orleans Saints, 2016-.