(Image via sportlen.com)

Staff Writer: Aidan Danforth

Email: adanforth@umassd.edu 

Here begins a lengthy rebuild. The New Orleans Saints have fired Head Coach Dennis Allen after a horrendous collapse. The Saints looked unstoppable the first two weeks after starting 2-0. Then they lost seven games straight and are now in contention for a top draft pick. 

Allen’s job appeared in jeopardy during that streak. But the nail in the coffin came in week nine after losing to a terrible Panthers team. What does this firing mean for the Saints, and what is in store for New Orleans’ future? 

Allen’s Tenure 

When asked, the Saints General Manager, Mickey Loomis, only expressed positive things about Allen. He called him a great coach, addressed the team’s issues with injuries, and admired Allen for always fighting. 

It was not an easy decision for the front office. However, it needed to be done. The Saints are in no position to compete and are destined to head into an extensive rebuild. 

Allen became the Saints Head Coach after Sean Payton retired after the 2021 season. Since 2015, he served as the Saints defensive coordinator and even filled in as head coach when Payton tested positive for COVID-19. 

The hiring made sense as Allen knew the organization and the players. There appeared to be optimism heading into 2022, with Quarterback Jameis Winston attempting to make a comeback and rookie Wide Receiver Chris Olave. 

Instead, Winston struggled and dealt with injuries, which led to Andy Dalton becoming the starter. The offense wasn’t great, apart from Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara. The defense did improve as they allowed the ninth least points per game. 

That led to a record of 7-10, which wasn’t terrible but not great. Middle of the pack is the perfect word to describe Allen’s first two years as HC. 

2023 saw the Saints finish with a record of 9-8. The offense improved with the addition of quarterback Derek Carr. They finished in the top ten in points for both offense and defense.  

The Saints finished one game away from winning the division, falling just short to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Once again, the Saints saw themselves in the middle of the NFL landscape. 

Because of that, Allens’ Saints got stuck in a challenging position. They weren’t good enough to compete and not bad enough to contend for top draft picks. 

To make matters worse, the Saints continued to deal with a tricky cap situation that limited their free agencies. This also led to the departure of several players that New Orleans could not pay. 

Heading into 2024, Allen’s seat emerged as hot. New Orleans had projections to miss the playoffs and finish with another mediocre record. 

For the first two weeks, the Saints fooled the world. They started 2-0 and weren’t just winning. Their point differential was incredible, with it being +62. Their wins came against the Panthers and Cowboys, which led to questions regarding their elite status. 

What followed was nothing short of horrific. Seven straight losses and a point differential of -22. Many blame the slide on Allen, along with the number of injuries that were suffered by several of their key players. 

That downfall marked the end of Allen’s time as he was fired the day after the loss to the Panthers. 

What’s Next? 

The Saints have been in the middle for so long with little progression to improve. This leads to what the Saints should have done when they lost Drew Brees: rebuild. 

New Orleans has little cap space, and many of their stars are aging and set to be free agents. It is now time to pull the plug and start over. 

Rebuilding is never easy for a team to do. A sports team always wishes to compete, but escaping the curse of being in the middle comes with its consequences. 

This is necessary for a team like the Saints. They have some young pieces like Chris Olave and Taliese Fuaga they can hold onto. However, it may be time for veterans like Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis, and Cameron Jordan to be let go. 

As for head coach, interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi helped the Saints snap their seven-game losing streak. They beat the Falcons 20-17, which shined light on Rizzi. 

If he keeps the Saints competitive, there’s a chance he may become their next head coach. Don’t be surprised if New Orleans looks for someone outside the organization to start fresh. 

For the best, New Orleans needs to accept that they are in no position to compete. Their glory days of Drew Brees and Sean Payton are long gone as this mighty team must hit the reset button and enter the basement of the NFL.