Following the 22-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 3, the New Orleans Saints head football coach Dennis Allen was fired nine games into the 2024 season.
According to an article by USA Today, the former defensive coordinator for the team was promoted to head coach in the off-season in 2022. During his time as head coach, Allen ended with a record of 18-25 in the 43 games and two seasons he coached.
“His winning percentage of .329 is the lowest among active head coaches,” the USA Today article reads.
The Saints ended the 2022 season with a 7-10 record and the 2023 season with a 9-8 record. Allen was fired in the ninth week of the 2024 season with the team holding a record of 2-7.
The Saints started out the 2024 season great with a 2-0 record and posted one of their best offenses. After averaging 35 points per game, the team beat the Carolina Panthers 47-10 on Sep. 8 and the Dallas Cowboys 44-19 on Sep. 15 in blowout victories.
Following the two early season wins, the Saints rattled off seven straight losses and fell out of the playoff stretch.
According to USA Today, although it is incredibly rare, Allen is the second head coach of a National Football League (NFL) team to be fired during the middle of the 2024 season.
When it comes to coaches or even players being let go by organizations, people typically wonder why. Some students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana shared their thoughts on the firing of Allen including Mark Nicholas, sophomore communication major.
“It goes more about the performances during the game, even with the injuries, losing the way they were is the reason he got fired,” Nicholas said. “You know, even losing Derek Carr (Saints’ quarterback) it still doesn’t excuse the performances.”
Cameron Murphy, senior graphic design major, hopes to see the team turn around after Allen’s firing.
“I honestly feel excited, not because the head coach being fired, but I’m looking to see the new head coach bring them back to winning,” Murphy said.
Relating to both Nicholas and Murphy, junior veterinary technology major Jeremy Wade thinks the Saints made the right decision by firing Allen and there is “only one step to returning to that dominant team they once were.”
“We’ve been faltering as a team, and it shows greatly. His decision-making for what plays were subpar and barely held weight,” Wade said. “We have not won a game since week 2. It sucks being a hopeful Saints fan watching the game and seeing the plays they make but still coming up short.”
Wade added that he was trying to be realistic when watching the football team this season.
“There needs to be improvements on both sides: offense and defense,” Wade said. “Hopefully, having a new coach will instill that drive, grit, passion and effort out of our players. We have been remarkable in the past, and I want us to return to that place. We’ve made it to the playoffs consistently but always fall short.”
NSU students look forward to watching the New Orleans team this season as they rebuild their coaching roster. For the remainder of the season, the Saints appointed special team coordinator Darren Rizzi on an interim basis as they look to rebuild in the offseason to build for the future, according to USA Today.
