NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The New Orleans Saints are expected to name former Dallas Cowboys assistant Sean Payton as their new head coach on Wednesday.
Payton had been a quarterbacks coach for three seasons under Bill Parcells in Dallas and also held the title of assistant head coach/passing game coordinator. He worked for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997-98 and the New York Giants from 1999-2002.
Payton played briefly in the NFL as a replacement player with the Chicago Bears during the 1987 players strike.
Payton succeeds Jim Haslett, who was New Orleans coach for six years. Haslett went 45-51, including an NFC West title in 2000, his first season.
The Saints finished 3-13 in 2005, a season in which all "home" games were played on the road because of Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans is expected to choose either Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart or Texas quarterback Vince Young with the second overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
