The New Orleans Saints fired coach Dennis Allen after a 2-7 start this season, team sources said Monday. Shortly after the move, the Saints named special teams coach Darren Rizzi as the interim head coach, according to a team source.
Allen went 18-25 in two-plus seasons in New Orleans after replacing Sean Payton, who stepped down following the 2021 season. The Saints never reached the playoffs during Allen’s tenure, going 7-10 in 2022 and 9-8 in 2023.
Last season, New Orleans entered Week 18 in the playoff hunt but missed out after wins by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who clinched the NFC South) and the Green Bay Packers (who earned the final NFC wild-card spot).
Allen, 52, succeeded Payton after six successful seasons as the Saints’ defensive coordinator.
This marks the second time Allen has been fired from an NFL head-coaching position. He coached the Oakland Raiders for the 2012 and 2013 seasons and four games into the 2014 season. The Raiders fired Allen in 2014 after an 0-4 start, ending his tenure with an 8-28 record.
Allen was the third coach to work under Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, who has been in his position since 2002.
The Saints lacked success at quarterback during Allen’s tenure. In 2022, Jameis Winston opened the season as the starter but was sidelined with injuries after three games. Andy Dalton took over for Winston and started every game the rest of the season.
In March 2023, New Orleans landed Derek Carr in free agency after the Raiders released him that February. However, the Saints offense frequently stumbled with Carr under center in 2023 and 2024.
Allen becomes the first coach in the Super Bowl era to be fired by two teams while having the same starting quarterback with both teams.
(Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
