The New Orleans Saints have one of the longer active playoff droughts in the league, and the lack of success could force the team to fire head coach Dennis Allen. Selected to replace Sean Payton in 2022, the former defensive coordinator missed the playoffs in each of his first two seasons despite heavy investments from the front office. While the lack of regular season success didn’t cost him his job, the head coach entered the season on the hot seat, knowing he needed to produce to keep his position.
Through two games, the Saints decision not to fire Dennis Allen appeared to be a good one. New Orleans dominated the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys in Weeks 1 and 2 by a combined score of 91-29 and looked like the best team in football. However, a combination of injuries and unfortunate bounces led to a six-game losing streak, and nobody knew if Saints ownership would blame Allen for what was largely bad luck. With Derek Carr back on the field for Week 9, the Saints had the chance to right the ship with an easy matchup against Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers.
Instead of a season-saving win, New Orleans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and lost, 23-22, to arguably the worst team in football. Now 2-7, the Saints are all but eliminated from playoff contention and will probably fire Dennis Allen before long.
Saints Could Fire Dennis Allen After Panthers Loss
Barring a complete 180, the Saints will probably fire Dennis Allen, but they’ll probably wait until the end of the season to do it. While Allen may be a dead man walking, the Saints typically don’t like to make hasty decisions during the season. For example, the 2023 New Orleans Saints allowed then-offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael to keep his job throughout the season before firing him after Week 18. Chances are, Allen will suffer a similar fate, even though the decision to get rid of him was likely made during the Panthers loss.
Chances are, this is the end of the road for Allen. While the defensive-minded coach could always land a job as a coordinator, it’s hard to envision another organization giving him full control of the team. In addition to his shortcomings with the Saints, the then-Oakland Raiders also had to fire Dennis Allen after going 8-28 over tw0-plus seasons.
The Next Coach
The Saints have only had two head coaches since 2006 (excluding interims Aaron Kromer and Joe Vitt), so it’s hard to say what they’ll do after they fire Dennis Allen. However, if history is any indicator, they’ll probably take a long look at current offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. While New Orleans’ season has spiraled out of control, the first-year playcaller has been one of the few consistent bright spots. The Kyle Shanahan product brought out the best in Derek Carr and continues to install life into a passing attack missing a sizable portion of their talent.
However, if the Saints choose to look outside the Metrodome, they should look for an offensive-minded head coach. Carr may or may not be back in 2025, but even if he returns, he’s not a long-term solution. New Orleans needs someone who can develop their next franchise quarterback, and someone like Ben Johnson or Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing could be the perfect hire.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
