Haslett joins Linehan’s staff with Rams

Former New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett was hired as St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Tuesday.

Greg Olson was hired as offensive coordinator. He spent the last two seasons with Detroit, first as quarterbacks coach, then as co-offensive coordinator.

Both will work under former University of Idaho quarterback Scott Linehan, hired last week as head coach.

“I was lucky to be able to get these guys,” Linehan said in a conference call. “They’re exactly what I was looking for.”

For years, Haslett was a sometimes bitter rival of the Rams when the Saints and Rams were in the NFC West. The Saints’ playoff win over the Rams in 2000 ended St. Louis’ quest for a second straight Super Bowl title. It was the only playoff win in Saints history, and Haslett was the NFL coach of the year.

Haslett was fired after six seasons as head coach after going 45-51 with the one playoff appearance. The Saints were displaced by Hurricane Katrina last season and went 3-13.

Haslett was also a finalist for the heading coaching job in Buffalo before it went to Dick Jauron. Haslett takes on the task of rebuilding the NFL’s 30th-ranked defense.

Linehan said it wouldn’t bother him if Haslett used his spot with the Rams to get back into head coaching.

“He gets another head coaching job, that’s a good thing,” Linehan said. “That means we’ve done well. My job is to hire a good staff under Jim so that we can promote from within.”

Linehan said Haslett convinced him he wanted to get back into coaching at any level.

“He’s a football coach and wants to go to the best place available,” Linehan said. “He’s a great fit.”

As a former head coach, Linehan said Haslett can help with advice.

“I don’t know that many people have gone through the ups and downs of a head coach like Jim has, especially last year,” Linehan said. “People know how grueling and tough that year was for the organization and he’s really held it together.”

Olson, 42, was quarterbacks coach at San Francisco in 2001 and at Chicago in 2003.

Around the league

Michael Vick has a new position coach after the Atlanta Falcons hired Bill Musgrave to tutor the quarterbacks. … Fired Houston Texans coach Dom Capers joined the Miami Dolphins, giving Nick Saban two new assistants with NFL head coaching experience. … Bill Kollar, a 17-year NFL assistant, who spent the last five seasons as defensive line coach with the Rams, was hired as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive line coach, marking Dick Jauron’s first move since taking over as head coach. … Former Buffalo tight end Jay Riemersma, who hasn’t played since tearing his right Achilles’ tendon in a game more than a year ago, is retiring, agent Jack Wirth said. … The Pittsburgh Steelers signed linebacker Arnold Harrison from their practice squad to replace Andre Frazier, who will miss the Super Bowl with a broken right ankle.