Saints fire Dennis Allen: Why New Orleans moved on from head coach

The New Orleans Saints went to Carolina hoping to get back in the win column after six consecutive losses, but the downward spiral continued. That was enough to prompt a major organizational change.

The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen nine games into the 2024 NFL season. The 52-year-old becomes the second NFL coach to be fired during the 2024 season and is expected to be replaced by special team coach Darren Rizzi on an interim basis.

New Orleans hired Allen after he spent 6 1/2 seasons as the defensive coordinator and 13 total seasons on Sean Payton's staff.

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Allen's defenses ranked in the top 10 in yards per game allowed and in the top five in opponent points per game each of the past two seasons, but the Saints failed to make the playoffs each season. The Saints got a quick start to the 2024 season but have dropped seven consecutive games, prompting his dismissal.

Here's what to know about the Saints' decision to fire Allen and his overall record with New Orleans.

Why did the Saints fire Dennis Allen?

Allen's inability to turn the Saints into a playoff contender seemed to be a main factor in his firing in New Orleans.

Allen posted just an 18-24 record as head coach of the Saints. While his defenses routinely ranked among the league's best, New Orleans' offenses fell at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Saints are the only team that was a top-10 scoring defense the previous four seasons. New Orleans finished with the NFC’s third-best point differential (+75) last season but failed to make the playoffs.

"...This Decision is something that I felt we needed to make at this time," Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement.

"DA is an excellent football coach," Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager added. "This season, we have had an avalanche of injuries. It took its toll. DA never offered excuses; he fought each day for this organization and this team, and that is what makes today disappointing."

The franchise recognized the injuries Allen has had to work around during his tenure. Star receiver Chris Olave suffered his third concussion in the last two seasons on Sunday. Derek Carr missed three games before Week 9. The offensive line was a major question mark entering the season and has been knocked down by injuries.

This marks the Saints organization's first in-season coach firing since Dick Nolan in 1980 and the first midseason change since Jim Mora resigned in 1996.

Since the end of the Drew Brees era, the Saints have missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. They went 9-8 last season and failed to capture the NFC South title despite entering the season as betting favorites. The Saints watched the Buccaneers take the division in 2023, and now they must contend with a Falcons squad that is much improved with Kirk Cousins at the helm.

The Saints sit behind the Panthers in the NFC South standings at the halfway point of the 2024 season.

Allen spent most of his NFL coaching career with the Saints organization. His first stint in New Orleans was from 2006-10 under Sean Payton. He served as a defensive line coach (2006-07) and secondary coach (2008-10). He accepted the Broncos defensive coordinator role in 2011 and spent one season with the Broncos before accepting the Raiders head coaching position in 2012.

Allen similarly spent two seasons-plus as the Raiders head coach before he was fired following a 0-4 start in 2014. His record with the Raiders was poor, at 8-28.

Allen rejoined Payton and the Saints staff as interim defensive coordinator in 2015. In 2016, Payton named Allen the full-time defensive coordinator, and he served that role until Payton retired after the 2021 season. Allen has been with the Saints for 16 seasons.

Allen released a statement on Monday afternoon:

Dennis Allen coaching record

Allen posted a record of 18-25 during his two-plus seasons with the New Orleans Saints. His winning percentage of .329 is the lowest among active head coaches.

Below is a year-by-year breakdown of Allen's record as the Saints head coach.

• 2022: 7-10

• 2023: 9-8

• 2024: 2-7 (fired after Week 9)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Saints fired Dennis Allen: Record, losing streak and more