Saints Fire Dennis Allen After Deflating Loss to Carolina

The New Orleans Saints made headlines on Monday by parting ways with their head coach, Dennis Allen, following a disappointing 23-22 loss to their division rival, the Carolina Panthers. This defeat underscored the struggles the team has been facing this season and prompted significant changes within the coaching staff. In the wake of this decision, the Saints promptly named special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi as their interim head coach.

Coach Dennis Allen had taken the helm in 2022, stepping into the spotlight after Sean Payton's departure. Transitioning from the role of defensive coordinator, which he had held for seven seasons in the Crescent City, Allen faced the daunting task of reviving a team that had enjoyed considerable success under Payton’s leadership. Throughout his tenure, which spanned 43 games, Allen managed to secure only 18 wins and 25 losses, highlighting a struggle to consistently put together a competitive team.

The challenges during Allen's regime were multifaceted. Issues with player performance and morale plagued the roster, and a defense that had once been a stronghold gradually descended into disarray, hitting rock bottom in 2024. This combination of factors ultimately led to Allen's undoing, signaling a need for a fresh perspective and renewed energy as the Saints seek to rebuild and reclaim their former glory in the league.

This situation has been brewing for quite some time, and it is definitely a justified change. Allen failed to build a competent defensive unit over the course of his tenure, despite being hailed as a guru on that side of the ball. Offensively, the Saints haven’t even come close to where they were with Payton and Drew Brees under center, which was partially anticipated with the departure of two future Hall of Famers. Yet still, this offense has failed to even be middle of the pack under Allen’s guidance for one reason or another. It was time for a change of pace in the city of New Orleans for both players and fans alike, and now it is time for that next chapter to begin.

There is a lot of work to be done with this team, and firing Allen surely does not solve all those issues. However, the move does knock down the first domino in the process of what could be a harsh stretch of years coming up for the Saints franchise.