The New Orleans Saints dismissed head coach Dennis Allen on Monday, following a seven-game losing streak that began after their Week 2 victory, extending their worst slump since 1999, according to a source familiar with the decision. The source spoke anonymously to the Associated Press since the team had not formally announced the news.
Allen, who was promoted in 2022 by general manager Mickey Loomis following Sean Payton’s brief retirement, managed an 18-25 record with no playoff appearances. Allen initially served as the Saints‘ defensive coordinator, guiding a top-10 defense in 2020 and 2021, but under his leadership, the offense struggled to maintain consistency in critical moments.
The Saints‘ offense, under new coordinator Klint Kubiak, began the season with 91 points in the first two weeks but has since faced injuries to key players like center Erik McCoy, quarterback Derek Carr, and receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, causing a significant dip in production. While the Saints defense excelled early in Allen’s tenure, it fell to 28th this season, allowing an average of 376.4 yards per game.
Despite Allen’s track record as a strong defensive coordinator, his head coaching record now stands at 26-53, including his tenure with the Raiders, making future head coaching prospects uncertain.
