Simran Joshi
The New Orleans Saints have dismissed head coach Dennis Allen after the team lost seven in a row, the longest by the franchise since 1999. The decision was made Monday, a day after a 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers, which left the Saints at 2-7 this season. Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will be the interim head coach, and New Orleans hopes to rally around the disappointment of this season of injury and inconsistency.
Coaching shake-up in response to disappointing season
The New Orleans Saints’ decision to fire head coach Dennis Allen was a huge media splash after the team succumbed to seven consecutive game losses, the longest such losing spree since 1999. Such a move came after losing 23-22 at home to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 and falling 2-7.
Allen had been with the organization for some years, starting as a defensive coordinator before becoming the head coach. He never led the Saints to the playoffs in his tenure. Allen’s head coaching record comes to an end at 18-25.
The Saints announced that assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will fill in for Allen in an interim capacity. The owner Gayle Benson acknowledged that Allen had done much for the team, and it was hard to do what the team really needed, which is changing its position for better improvements. The interim coach, Rizzi, has got some very crucial games, including against the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns, before the Saints’ Week 12 bye.
Injuries and Struggles on Offense Mar the 2024 Season
Injuries, especially among the team’s key offensive players, have made the season even worse for the Saints. Quarterback Derek Carr did not play due to an oblique injury, while another important receiver, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, is done for the season, injured badly in Week 6.
And then there was the second concussion for one of their important receivers in Chris Olave, leaving him hospitalized and released on Sunday. That hasn’t helped sustain the scoring in which the Saints have been displaying since the first two weeks.
Yet no matter Allen’s best efforts, the Saints seemed an inconsistent offense, as indicated by a meager 91 points in the season’s first two games before failing down the stretch. Executive Vice President and General Manager Mickey Loomis praised Allen’s perseverance and dedication, even if injuries had mounted and the team never truly got its rhythm going. “He will be missed in the long term,” Loomis said of Allen.
Follow Wat-Not on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings