The New Orleans Saints added Scott Tolzien to new coach Kellen Moore's offensive staff on Tuesday. Tolzien is being brought in as the team's quarterback coach.
John Hendrix of Athlon Sports initially reported on Tolzien's hiring on Tuesday morning.
Tolzien, 37, reunites with Kellen Moore after the two were together on the same staff with the Dallas Cowboys for three years. Here's a closer look at his football career.
Scott Tolzien - Playing Career
Tolzien was a collegiate quarterback at Wisconsin, enrolling in 2006. He was redshirted as a true freshman and also did not see any playing time in 2007, seeing only mop-up duty in one game during the 2008 season.
Wisconsin's starter entering 2009, Tolzien led the Badgers to a 10-3 record. In the process, he'd complete 64.3% of his throws for 2,705 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Tolzien was even better in 2010, helping the Badgers to an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl appearance against TCU. He completed 72.9% of his passes for 2,459 yards with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award as the nation's top underclassman quarterback.
Not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft, Tolzien was signed by the San Diego Chargers. He was released just before the regular season but was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers and would be their third-string quarterback for the next two seasons.
After being waived by the 49ers at the end of the 2013 preseason, Tolzien was picked up by the Green Bay Packers. Injuries forced him into his first regular season action against Philadelphia, throwing for 280 yards and his first career touchdown along with two interceptions.
Tolzien got his first career start the following game in Week 11 versus the New York Giants. Tolzien completed 24 of 34 passes for 339 yards, but also three interceptions in a loss. He'd start again the next week, but was relieved in the second half.
With the Packers through 2015, Tolzien would see mop-up duty in just a few more games. In 2016, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent. He'd start two games in two years with the Colts, both losses, completing 58.2% of his throws for 344 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Over a seven-year NFL career, Tolzien made four starts with significant action in another game and very brief appearances in five others. His career totals were 1,065 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and a 60.3% completion percentage.
Scott Tolzien - Coaching Career
Once his playing career ended, Tolzien returned to Wisconsin in 2019 as a scouting analyst. He was there only one year before being brought onto the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff in 2020.
Tolzien initially served as a general offensive assistant from 2020 to 2022 under Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Without QB Dak Prescott for all but five games in 2020, the Cowboys still ranked 8th in passing production behind QB Andy Dalton.
With Prescott back behind center in 2021, Dallas ranked 1st in total offense and points scored while finishing second in passing yardage. In 2022, the Cowboys were 11th in total offense but 4th in points scored.
After the departure of Moore following the 2022-23 season, Tolzien was promoted to QB coach. That year, Dallas was 5th in total offense and 3rd in passing yardage. Tolzien remained the Cowboys QB coach until the conclusion of this past year.
Now with New Orleans, Tolzien will oversee a quarterback spot that has questions about the future of veteran starter Derek Carr and the development of 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler. With Carr missing seven games in 2024, the Saints ranked 21st in total offense and 23rd in passing production.
