The New Orleans Saints have fired head coach Dennis Allen, according to ESPN and NFL Network insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is expected to be elevated to interim head coach, Rapoport reported.
The move comes one day after a 23-22 loss to the hapless Carolina Panthers, dropping New Orleans to 2-7. It was the club's seventh straight loss following a 2-0 start.
Saints outgained the Panthers by 150+ yards, ran for 150+ yards, and won the turnover battle
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 3, 2024
Over the last 20 years, teams had gone 275-0 with that formula.
Now 275-1.
Allen was in his third season leading the club, peaking with a 9-8 mark in 2023. New Orleans went 7-10 in 2022.
Allen, 52, previously spent parts of three seasons as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. He was also let go in the midst of his third season there; in four full seasons and parts of two more, Allen's teams did not make the playoffs, posted one winning season, and went 26-53 overall.
Allen spent the previous seven seasons as the club's defensive coordinator under Sean Payton, plus one more as a senior defensive assistant. In making this move, GM Mickey Loomis will have an opportunity to take a clean break from the Payton era, which dates back to 2006.
New Orleans is the second NFL franchise to make a mid-season coaching change. The New York Jets dismissed Robert Saleh on Oct. 8.
We would expect special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi to be named interim head coach. Will update once that decision is clear.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Update: Rizzi has been named interim head coach.