After 43 games, Dennis Allen’s tenure has come to a close.
It took a decision from owner Gayle Benson, bypassing General Manager Mickey Loomis, to show the door to outgoing Head Coach Dennis Allen.
Allen, who previously held the role of Defensive Coordinator before the retirement of Sean Payton, leaves New Orleans with a 18-25 record.
However it was his final seven games, a seven-game losing streak that was the worst run for the team since 1999, that sealed his fate and forced the Saints to make a change.
Many fans have been calling for this moment for two years.
While the Saints had a winning record in 2023 at 9-8, the talent in the locker room deserved more and the team missed the playoffs on a tie-breaker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Following the latest loss to the bottom-of-the-league Carolina Panthers, many Saints players took to social media to voice their displeasure.
It was clear the locker room had been lost and a change had to come.
So what now for the team desperate to return to the highs of their 2009 Super Bowl winning season?
The front office will turn to Darren Rizzi, the team’s well-liked special teams coach, as their interim Head Coach before the search begins in earnest in the offseason for Allen’s successor.
Perhaps it would be too much to hope that the team can experience enough of a ‘bump’ to see off the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday in the Superdome.
The Saints are still marred by huge injury losses across the board, and there are some fans who will want to continue on this current trajectory to ensure a high draft pick next year.
But win or lose, the fans have finally heard the message they have been waiting for – the New Orleans Saints will not accept mediocrity.
The future is yet to be written.
