A seventh consecutive loss has doomed Dennis Allen.
The New Orleans Saints fired the head coach on Monday following a disappointing 23-22 loss to division rival Carolina, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported, per sources informed of the situation. The team later announced the news.
New Orleans named special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi its interim head coach.
"Dennis has been part of our organization for many years. He is highly regarded within the NFL. He has been extremely loyal and professional and most importantly an excellent football coach for us. All of this makes today very tough for me and our organization," Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. "However, this decision is something that I felt we needed to make at this time. I wish nothing but the best in the future for Dennis and his family. He will always be considered in the highest regard by me and everyone within our organization."
Allen took over as head coach after Sean Payton walked away in 2022, transitioning from defensive coordinator, a gig he’d held for seven seasons in New Orleans, to the big chair.
In 43 games as head coach, Allen compiled an 18-25 record (.419).
"I want to take this opportunity to first and foremost thank Gayle Benson for the opportunity to be the head coach of the New Orleans Saints," Allen said in a statement on Monday. "The organization will always be near and dear to my heart and I am disappointed the results weren't better. I also want to thank Mickey Loomis for the support he and his staff provided throughout the entire time I was with the organization.
"I am proud to have worked alongside some great coaches, both as an assistant and during my time as the head coach. To those men, I am sincerely grateful for the time and effort they put into their jobs. I am also grateful for the entire staff that worked hard to provide the support and will miss our daily interactions."
After back-to-back seasons missing the playoffs, the 52-year-old coach entered the 2024 season on the hot seat. The 2023 campaign ended rife with locker room questions, but the Saints stuck things out with Allen.
The coach imported coordinator Klint Kubiak to jumpstart a stalled offense. After two weeks, the move looked brilliant. The Saints put up 40-plus points in blowout wins over the Panthers and Cowboys. Those games feel like a decade ago.
Then, the Saints marched off a cliff.
New Orleans lost its seventh consecutive game on Sunday, falling to a Panthers team it thoroughly outclassed in Week 1. The vibe after the loss highlighted a locker room that never entirely seemed behind the coach.
The seven-game skid marked the longest losing streak for the franchise since Weeks 2-9, 1999.
Allen taking over for Payton seemed like a natural transition from the Super Bowl-winning coach, but despite a veteran roster, the Saints never lived up to the talent level. From mismanaged games to humbling losses, the Allen era goes down as a forgettable wasteland in the Bayou.
"D.A. is an excellent football coach," Saints executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement. "This season, we have had an avalanche of injuries. It took its toll. D.A. has never offered excuses, he fought each day for this organization and this team and that is what makes today disappointing. Dennis has been an integral part of this organization's success for the better part of twenty years. He will be missed."
Monday's axing marked the second time that Allen was fired midseason. The Oakland Raiders moved on from him after four games in the 2014 season. Allen is the latest example that some are better coordinators than head coaches.
Allen owns a 26-53 career record (.329) as a head coach.
The midseason firing kickstarts a trove of questions in New Orleans. Will Loomis keep his job, or will Benson opt for a complete house-cleaning? Does Derek Carr stick around? What of the numerous veterans peppering the roster? How does the NFL’s quintessential can-kicking franchise author a fresh start with few young assets?
With each loss, Allen’s grip on his job lessened. A seventh straight defeat yanked it away.