After Sean Payton abruptly retired in early 2022, the New Orleans Saints went to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to lead the team. The Saints have missed the playoffs in each of Allen’s seasons as head coach.
It goes without saying that 2024 is a make-or-break year for Allen. He’s in his third year as Saints head coach, and if the team fails to make the playoffs again this season, no one will blame management for firing him and heading in a different direction.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin ranked Allen third among coaches on the hot seat.
“Like Todd Bowles in the NFC South, Allen is a respected defensive mind who can always force a physical and/or low-scoring game. Unlike Bowles, he has yet to drive his own postseason bid, instead opting for a conservative approach as a last-ditch decision-maker to keep New Orleans afloat. Allen’s record as a head coach in four and a half years, dating back to his stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, is 24-46, despite the fact that his current team prioritizes win-now components above long-term rebuilding. It’s probably playoffs or bust for both him and Derek Carr.”
2024 is a make-or-break year for Dennis Allen.
Benjamin couldn’t help but bring up Allen’s total head coaching record, which dates back to the mid-2010s when he was the Raiders’ head coach. He struggled as the Raiders’ head coach, so he became the Saints’ defensive coordinator and is now their head coach.
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The Saints may not intend to part ways with Allen if he leads the team to another poor season, but fans will undoubtedly anticipate and hope for it to happen. Sometimes guys are excellent coordinators, but they lack the necessary qualifications to be head coaches. If the Saints suffer another disappointing season in 2024, Allen will certainly belong in that category.
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