The New Orleans Saints have announced that Offensive Line/Running Game Coach Aaron Kromer will replace Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Coach Joe Vitt during Vitt's six-game suspension. 
 
Kromer is entering his fifth season with the Saints, and has 22 years of coaching experience. He will officially take over the duties on Monday, September 3.

Coach Joe Vitt begins serving his six-game suspension on week one of the regular season.  Vitt was tapped to fill the vacancy left by head coach Sean Payton's season long suspension.  Both Vitt and Payton were suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for their alleged roles in the team's pay-for-performance program.

Saints owner Tom Benson and General Manager Mickey Loomis made the decision on Kromer.

“This was a difficult decision because we have several coaches on our staff that would do a great job in this role,” said Loomis. “Ultimately, I wanted to have the least amount of change with both the offensive and defensive staffs, and maintain the most continuity with the program that has been in place for the last six years.”

After initially coaching the Saints running backs in 2008, Kromer has overseen the Saints offensive line the past three seasons. The former college offensive lineman has developed the skills of seven Pro Bowl blockers during his time in the NFL, including three in 2011. Known for his teaching skills and attention to detail, five Saints blockers have been selected to the Pro Bowl under Kromer’s direction. The line has allowed the third-lowest sack total in the past three seasons in the NFL. In both 2009 and 2011, the New Orleans offensive line has been honored with the Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award, awarded annually to the best offensive line in the NFL.

“I appreciate the confidence that Mr. Benson and Mickey have in me to handle this duty while Coach Vitt and Coach Payton are not with us,” said Kromer. “Coach Payton has laid a successful foundation here and our jobs are to make sure we keep moving in that direction.”

“Aaron knows Sean’s system very well and how he would be expected to operate this team,” said Saints QB Drew Brees in a Saints news release. “We have a very strong coaching staff and Aaron is a coach that is very well respected in our locker room.”

After managing an offensive line in which all five players had started 22 consecutive regular season games, Kromer played a vital role in the development of two first-time starters in T Zach Strief and C Brian de la Puente in 2011. The line allowed the second-fewest in the NFL, and played an instrumental role in blocking for an offense that set the league’s single-season yardage record as well as several other NFL marks. A resurgent run game ranked sixth in the league in the club’s most productive season since 1987, grinding out 132.9 yards per game.

 Photo by Jay Vise