The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on Thursday morning. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. One of the most respected defensive minds in the game and one of the most coveted candidates on the market, Williams will take over a Saints' defense that ranked 23rd in the NFL in yards allowed and tied for 26th in points allowed last season. "A lot has gone into this decision, and we targeted Gregg as the coach we'd like to hire after our first interview because he was so impressive and prepared," Saints' Coach Sean Payton said in a statement. "As an offensive coach, I have game-planned against his defenses in the past, and I know the problems they create. He's an aggressive coach, but his units are always sound fundamentally. We have some pieces in place for him to work with, and I know he's excited to get started." "Gregg is a tremendous addition to our coaching staff," General Manager Mickey Loomis added. "We were looking for a coach with experience, a proven track record of success and a clear philosophy on where the improvements needed to be made on our defense and that process."