What does Dennis Allen’s firing mean for Saints, Derek Carr?

Katherine Terrell

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Katherine Terrell

ESPN Staff Writer
Jeremy Fowler

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Jeremy Fowler

senior NFL national reporter
- ESPN staff writer
- Previously a college football reporter for CBSSports.com
- University of Florida graduate

Nov 4, 2024, 12:46 PM ET

METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis made it clear he was in coach Dennis Allen’s corner — first in a season-ending news conference in January, then in an interview last month and even in Loomis’ goodbye statement after Allen’s firing on Monday.

Loomis cited the “avalanche of injuries” and said it was a disappointing day in a statement released by the team. Less than a month ago, when the Saints were 2-4, Loomis also used the “avalanche of injuries” phrase in a radio interview and said “It’s not always about the head coach. Sometimes it is. … It’s about a lot of different variables.”

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So why did a team that has been reluctant to make major changes finally move on from Allen?

Things went sideways quickly after the team’s 2-0 start and players began to express discontent last week after their sixth straight loss, with team captain Cameron Jordan and running back Alvin Kamara mentioning the possibility of a players-only meeting.

There still seemed to be hope the Saints could turn the season around with quarterback Derek Carr coming back from injury in Week 9. But blowing a late lead against a Carolina Panthers team with the worst record in the NFL coming into the game was the final straw.

ESPN’s Football Power Index now gives the Saints better odds to have the No. 1 pick (4.1%) than to make the playoffs (0.5%). New Orleans is one of nine teams with two wins and has a 38.2% chance to pick in the top five.

The Saints will now move forward with interim coach Darren Rizzi and try to finish the season on a better note. Here’s a deeper look at what Allen’s firing means for the team. —Katherine Terrell

Dennis Allen, who was relieved of his duties as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints on Monday, has a record of 26-53 as a coach. Grant Halverson/Getty Images

How did New Orleans get here after the 2-0 start where they rolled up 91 points?

The Saints looked practically unstoppable after two games, but those victories over the Dallas Cowboys and Panthers (who have won a combined five games) don’t look nearly as impressive now. Opponents figured out the Saints’ offense quickly and it got worse every week.

First, they lost close games to the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, and simply got outclassed against the Kansas City Chiefs. Injuries played a huge part, particularly with the Saints having to start a rookie quarterback for three weeks, but it wasn’t the whole story.

The Saints consistently made the same mistakes and their defense, which allowed the seventh-fewest yards per game (273) through the first two weeks, became a liability and ranks 28th (376.4). The Panthers’ loss Sunday was more of the same — shaky defense, a struggling offense and mistakes at critical times. — Terrell

What does this mean for Carr?

The Saints have already gotten a three-game look at rookie QB Spencer Rattler, and Carr is under contract for next season. That means it’s likely the Saints are sticking with Carr unless they want to see what they have in second-year quarterback Jake Haener, who has had limited playing time this year.

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Carr is due at least $10 million next year because of a guaranteed roster bonus, and has $30 million of his base salary in 2025 guaranteed for injury. That amount becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2025 league year. Allen was the driving force behind signing Carr in 2023, but moving on from him won’t be easy if that’s what the Saints choose to do with their next coach.

Carr’s $51 million cap hit will have to be addressed in some way next year, so how he and the rest of the team plays to end the season will likely go a long way toward any offseason decision. —Terrell

Could GM Mickey Loomis lose his job?

Unlikely. Loomis has been with the organization since 2000 and has been the general manager since 2002. Loomis is one of the members of owner Gayle Benson’s inner circle, having worked under her husband, Tom Benson, until his death in 2018. The only non-owner that has been in a similar role is Cincinnati Bengals player personnel director Duke Tobin, who has been in that job since 1999.

lt’s hard to imagine that Gayle Benson would want to overhaul a front office that has remained largely intact since she took over the job (with the exception of Terry Fontenot taking the Falcons’ GM role). While it’s possible Loomis could one day move into a different role and promote someone to the general manager title, it’s hard to imagine he leaves the organization unless he chooses to retire. — Terrell

How enticing will the New Orleans job be in the offseason? What names would you expect to be involved with the position?

This is a midtier opening at best. The Saints are saddled with one of the NFL’s oldest rosters, with several key players on bloated contracts. Many positions on both sides of the ball seem unsettled for the long term, quarterback included. The roster probably needs a tear down. But a precedent for consistent winning exists, which shouldn’t be ignored. New Orleans has 76 wins since 2017 and eight double-digit-win seasons since 2009.

While much of that success can be traced to Sean Payton and Drew Brees, the Saints’ culture of success won’t be sullied by a bridge hire that didn’t work out. Fans and media love to rail on the Saints’ cap projections — and, yes, entering 2025 at $77 million over the cap is daunting — but New Orleans has been managing cap surpluses for two decades. The Saints might face an uncomfortable year or two if they decide to go younger, but the cap is malleable, bent to the will of assistant GM/vice president of football operations Khai Harley.

As for candidates, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn would be a fit — he’s a Bill Parcells/Payton disciple who earned his coaching chops in New Orleans before leading Detroit to a top-five defense. And his running mate in Detroit, Ben Johnson, is one of many qualified offensive-minded coaches, a list that also includes Houston Texans OC Bobby Slowik and Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken. —Jeremy Fowler

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