NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Following a disappointing streak of seven consecutive losses, the New Orleans Saints made the decision to fire head coach Dennis Allen on Monday. This decision came after a narrow defeat to the last-place Carolina Panthers, pushing the Saints’ record to 2-7 and jeopardizing their hope for a playoff appearance for a fourth consecutive season.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis expressed his disappointment, stating, “DA is an excellent football coach. This season has seen a slew of injuries that have impacted our performance. DA never made excuses and worked tirelessly for this organization, making this situation especially disheartening.”
In light of the change, the Saints have appointed Darren Rizzi, the special teams coordinator, as the interim head coach for the remaining eight games of the season. Rizzi, 54, acknowledged the severity of the situation, remarking, “This is not a day for celebration. It’s a tough day, but the only way to respond is to fight through it.”
Rizzi is determined to take on the challenge ahead, attributing his fighting spirit to his past experiences, which include being a walk-on tight end in college and spending time as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992, before eventually becoming head coach at Division II New Haven in 1999.
“We’re going to reassess everything,” Rizzi stated, emphasizing the need for a thorough evaluation of all personnel involved in the team’s structure. He mentioned his influences, particularly Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, who gave Rizzi his first NFL opportunity.
In Rizzi’s view, “When you lose seven games in a row, you can’t simply maintain the status quo; change is necessary.”
During his tenure as head coach, Allen posted a record of 18-25 without securing a playoff appearance. He took over coaching duties in 2022 after Sean Payton, the franchise’s all-time winningest coach, stepped back for a brief retirement. Loomis had elevated Allen from his position as defensive coordinator after a successful period where his defense ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in both 2020 and 2021.
Saints owner Gayle Benson reflected on Allen’s loyalty and professionalism, stating, “Dennis has represented our organization for many years. This decision wasn’t easy for me or for the organization, but it was necessary.” Allen expressed gratitude towards Benson and Loomis in a statement, calling the Saints an organization “that will always be near and dear to my heart.” He acknowledged the dedication of the players, apologizing that the results did not meet their efforts.
Initially, the Saints’ defense remained strong during Allen’s leadership; however, the offense has struggled, particularly in high-pressure situations. This season, under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the Saints began with impressive performances, scoring a total of 91 points in the first two games. Unfortunately, the team has since faced significant challenges, including injuries to key players.
Injuries to pivotal figures like center Erik McCoy and quarterback Derek Carr, along with top receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, have contributed to the Saints’ struggles. Even with Carr returning, the Saints fell to the Panthers despite outgaining them significantly in total offense.
In his first year coaching, Allen recorded a 7-10 season, which improved to 9-8 the following year, narrowly missing the postseason. He had hoped that the introduction of a new offense would lead to a return to playoff contention for the first time since 2020. Sadly, the offense now ranks 16th in terms of yards per game and the defense has slipped to 28th.
Safety Tyrann Mathieu commented on the team’s situation, admitting that the players felt a significant responsibility in Allen’s dismissal, emphasizing that the defense’s inability to close out games played a crucial role in the disappointing season.
As Allen’s tenure comes to a close, he thanks Saints fans for their unwavering support, recognizing it as a privilege to coach within such a respected franchise in a vibrant city.
Next Steps
Rizzi is set to lead the Saints in his head coaching debut this week against the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons. A victory could narrow the gap between the Saints and Falcons to three games with seven matches still remaining.
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