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It’s official. Dennis Allen is out as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. The firing comes a day after a loss at last-place Carolina extended the Saints’ losing streak to seven games — its longest since 1999.Allen was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in February 2022 after Sean Payton abruptly resigned following 16 seasons in New Orleans.Prior to becoming the Saints head coach, Allen spent 12 seasons in New Orleans as an assistant under Payton. He was the assistant defensive line coach during the 2006-2007 seasons, then moved to secondary coach from 2008-2010. Allen was part of the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV championship coaching staff in 2009. From 2011 through 2014, he worked as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos and head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders. He returned to New Orleans in 2015 as a senior defensive assistant and became the defensive coordinator in 2016. This year, with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in charge, the offense began the season by scoring a stunning 91 points over consecutive victories in Weeks 1 and 2. Since then, however, the unit has struggled to produce, while injuries to key players have mounted.Center Erik McCoy, the Saints’ most accomplished offensive lineman, was the first to go down in Week 3 and hasn’t played since. Meanwhile, New Orleans has endured stints without quarterback Derek Carr, top receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed and veteran guard Cesar Ruiz, among others.New Orleans entered Sunday’s loss to the Panthers without three of its top four cornerbacks on defense: Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo and Kool-Aid McKinstry.But Carr was back from a three-game absence.The Saints outgained the Panthers 427 yards to 246 yet still lost, 23-22 — to a team it had beaten 47-10 in Week 1.Allen went 7-10 in his first season with the Saints and improved to 9-8 last year, narrowly missing the playoffs. Allen hoped that with a new offense, New Orleans would improve enough to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020 — which also was franchise all-time passer Drew Brees’ final NFL season.Allen’s tenure will be remembered mostly for failing to maintain the winning standard set by Payton.The Saints’ decision to promote Allen was largely based on continuity, believing the franchise’s success was bigger than just one person.Allen’s best and worst games as Saints head coach both arguably came against the archrival Falcons.Led by veterans Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas, the Saints started the 2022 season with an epic comeback win in Atlanta. That victory is one of the high-water marks of the Allen era.In the 2023 regular season finale, the Saints beat the Falcons but tricked Atlanta players near the end of the game to secure a touchdown for running back Jamaal Williams. Following the game, Allen apologized to the Atlanta Falcons organization, a move that drew intense criticism from the Saints’ fanbase.Assistant head coach Darren Rizzi will assume head coaching duties through the rest of the season. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
It’s official. Dennis Allen is out as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. The firing comes a day after a loss at last-place Carolina extended the Saints’ losing streak to seven games — its longest since 1999.
Allen was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in February 2022 after Sean Payton abruptly resigned following 16 seasons in New Orleans.
Prior to becoming the Saints head coach, Allen spent 12 seasons in New Orleans as an assistant under Payton. He was the assistant defensive line coach during the 2006-2007 seasons, then moved to secondary coach from 2008-2010. Allen was part of the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV championship coaching staff in 2009. From 2011 through 2014, he worked as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos and head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders. He returned to New Orleans in 2015 as a senior defensive assistant and became the defensive coordinator in 2016.
This year, with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in charge, the offense began the season by scoring a stunning 91 points over consecutive victories in Weeks 1 and 2. Since then, however, the unit has struggled to produce, while injuries to key players have mounted.
Center Erik McCoy, the Saints’ most accomplished offensive lineman, was the first to go down in Week 3 and hasn’t played since. Meanwhile, New Orleans has endured stints without quarterback Derek Carr, top receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed and veteran guard Cesar Ruiz, among others.
New Orleans entered Sunday’s loss to the Panthers without three of its top four cornerbacks on defense: Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo and Kool-Aid McKinstry.
But Carr was back from a three-game absence.
The Saints outgained the Panthers 427 yards to 246 yet still lost, 23-22 — to a team it had beaten 47-10 in Week 1.
Allen went 7-10 in his first season with the Saints and improved to 9-8 last year, narrowly missing the playoffs. Allen hoped that with a new offense, New Orleans would improve enough to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020 — which also was franchise all-time passer Drew Brees’ final NFL season.
Allen’s tenure will be remembered mostly for failing to maintain the winning standard set by Payton.
The Saints’ decision to promote Allen was largely based on continuity, believing the franchise’s success was bigger than just one person.
Allen’s best and worst games as Saints head coach both arguably came against the archrival Falcons.
Led by veterans Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas, the Saints started the 2022 season with an epic comeback win in Atlanta. That victory is one of the high-water marks of the Allen era.
In the 2023 regular season finale, the Saints beat the Falcons but tricked Atlanta players near the end of the game to secure a touchdown for running back Jamaal Williams. Following the game, Allen apologized to the Atlanta Falcons organization, a move that drew intense criticism from the Saints’ fanbase.
Assistant head coach Darren Rizzi will assume head coaching duties through the rest of the season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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