The New Orleans Saints dismissed head coach Dennis Allen on Monday, marking a significant shakeup following the team’s seven-game losing streak.

The decision came on the heels of a disappointing 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers, a last-place team in the division, which extended the Saints’ rough season to one of its worst since 1999.

Allen, who took over head coaching duties in 2022 after Sean Payton’s temporary departure, managed an 18-25 record with no playoff appearances.

 The Saints have now gone four consecutive seasons without making it to the postseason, and the recent game illustrated the team’s struggle with an ailing roster.

 On Sunday, they faced Carolina without three top cornerbacks—Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, and Kool-Aid McKinstry—yet still outgained the Panthers 427 to 246 yards.

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Darren Rizzi Steps in as Interim Coach

With Allen out, the Saints appointed special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, 54, as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Rizzi, who is stepping into the role for the first time with the Saints, is determined to tackle the challenge head-on.

“This is not a day for celebration,” Rizzi commented. “This is a tough day. At the same time, there’s only one way to fight through this.” 

Rizzi is optimistic. He describes his journey from walk-on tight end at Rhode Island to undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles. And eventually landing his first head coaching role with Division II New Haven.

“Literally, we’re going to reevaluate everything,” Rizzi stated, acknowledging his commitment to revitalizing the Saints’ program. 

Drawing inspiration from his mentor, two-time Super Bowl champion Bill Parcells, Rizzi emphasized a full reset. “You’re going to reevaluate everybody, everything, staff, the coaches, the players,” he said.

 “Because, right now, when you lose seven games in a row, you’re obviously not in a place where you can stay status quo.”

Reflecting on Allen’s Tenure 

Dennis Allen’s journey with the Saints spans many years, beginning as a defensive assistant from 2006 to 2010. He later returned as defensive coordinator in 2015, where he led one of the league’s top defenses in 2020 and 2021.

Saints' owner Gayle Benson expressed gratitude for Allen’s dedication. “Dennis has been a part of our organization for many years,” Benson said.

“He has been extremely loyal and professional. All of this makes today very tough for me and our organization. However, this decision is something that I felt we needed to make at this time.”

In a statement, Allen thanked the Saints, calling them an “organization that will always be near and dear to my heart.” He expressed disappointment over the lack of better results but praised his players’ dedication.

Injuries Taking a Toll on New Orleans Saints

Despite the Saints’ effort, general manager Mickey Loomis remarked on the toll that numerous injuries had taken on the season. “DA is an excellent football coach,” said Loomis. 

“This season, we’ve had an avalanche of injuries. It took its toll. DA has never offered excuses. He fought each day for this organization and this team, and that is what makes today disappointing.”

While Allen’s defense continued to be a bright spot, the Saints’ offense struggled, especially as injuries depleted their roster. 

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s unit started strong with 91 points in the first two weeks but saw declining performance as key players went down.

Center Erik McCoy was sidelined in Week 3, followed by injuries to quarterback Derek Carr, receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, and guard Cesar Ruiz.

As the Saints transition under Rizzi’s leadership, they’ll seek to rebuild and finish the season on a positive note.