Contents
- 1 Following his struggles in New Orleans, Dennis Allen’s tenure comes to an end
- 2 Remarks from the Saints’ Leadership
- 3 A bright beginning that dissipated fast
- 4 Allen’s Battles with Instability at Quarterback
- 5 A Significant Setback in Week 6
- 6 Future Obstacles for the Next Head Coach of the Saints
- 7 Looking for a new leader?
Following his struggles in New Orleans, Dennis Allen’s tenure comes to an end
In his third season as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Dennis Allen was unable to handle the pressure of a protracted losing streak after two difficult seasons with inconsistent outcomes. After a discouraging seven-game skid, the team’s administration decided to make a change, despite early encouragement. The decisive moment occurred following a close 23–22 loss to the struggling Carolina Panthers in Week 9. Saints management responded by announcing Monday morning that Darren Rizzi, the special teams coordinator, will take over as temporary head coach.
Remarks from the Saints’ Leadership
Despite the unfortunate result, Allen was praised by Saints owner Gayle Benson and executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis. Benson commented on the difficulty of the decision and appreciated Allen’s longstanding professionalism and loyalty: “Dennis has been part of our organization for many years.” In the NFL, he is well respected. In addition to being incredibly professional and devoted, he has been a fantastic football coach for us. Today is really difficult for me and our organization because of all of this. Allen also thanked Benson, his colleagues, coaches, and the players, while Loomis pointed to the team’s injury problems as a contributing reason.
A bright beginning that dissipated fast
With two early victories, the Saints had a promising start to the season. But the team’s performance rapidly declined, reminding supporters of the Saints’ deterioration since head coach Sean Payton left following the 2021 campaign. Among the losses was a Week 7 setback against the Denver Broncos, Payton’s current team, 33-10. The Panthers, who had only won three games since the start of the 2023 season, dealt the Saints a heartbreaking defeat as well. New Orleans gave up a late lead in the game, which took rookie quarterback Bryce Young the opportunity to lead a game-winning drive.
Early in the season, there was a glimmer of hope, but the Saints’ losing streak compelled the organization to act. Allen finished with a record of 18–25 over his more than two seasons with New Orleans, missing out on a postseason trip.
Allen’s Battles with Instability at Quarterback
An unresolved quarterback position was one of Allen’s biggest obstacles during his tenure. The Saints had initially believed that in 2022, Jameis Winston would prove to be the answer. But Andy Dalton became the starting quarterback after Winston was hurt early in the season. Reunited with Allen from their time with the Raiders, the team signed veteran quarterback Derek Carr to a big contract in 2023. Regretfully, Carr’s performance did not live up to the hype. The Saints’ offensive stability was further complicated when he suffered an oblique injury that kept him out of action for three games, interrupting his promising start to the season. To further complicate matters at quarterback, Carr was also criticized on social media by former Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas.
A Significant Setback in Week 6
A pivotal point in Allen’s season came during the Saints’ Week 6 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints’ defense gave up 594 yards and several touchdowns, including a defensive score by Tampa Bay, in a 51-27 thumping. Allen, who is renowned for his proficiency on defense, came under heavy fire for the team’s subpar defensive performance. The defensive collapse obscured any offensive problems, even though rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, a fifth-round draft pick, was starting in place of the injured Carr.
Future Obstacles for the Next Head Coach of the Saints
It will not be simple to find Allen’s successor. According to Spotrac, the Saints are presently expected to be $77.4 million above the 2025 limit, making them one of the NFL’s most challenging salary cap scenarios. This budgetary restriction will necessitate innovative reorganization, which may further tax future cap space. The squad also lacks a projected franchise quarterback and a strong young core, which limits the alternatives available to an incoming coach who wants to quickly rebuild.
When Allen took over the position following the retirement of Saints star Drew Brees and Sean Payton’s departure, he was put in a difficult position right away. Allen was tasked with keeping the Saints competitive in the playoffs in the absence of a clear quarterback succession plan, but this objective was ultimately not achieved.
Looking for a new leader?
The Saints’ attention is now on hiring a new head coach who can bring the squad back to life. New Orleans will be looking for a leader who can guide the team through a challenging rebuild because of its financial difficulties and unstable quarterback. The Saints hope that their next head coach can usher in a new era of success, even though Allen was unable to measure up to the lofty standards set by Sean Payton’s legacy.
