The New Orleans Saints aren’t seen as the most desirable vacancy this year (depending on where you look, they could have the worst head coach opening in the NFL), but Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr laid out what could attract coaches to join the black and gold:
An incredible fan base and unique locale for the right head coach; a division that, year after year, seems to elicit no interest in a runaway winner; a place where moderate success and salesmanship can lead to a long career.
Orr doesn’t mention young talent like Chris Olave, Taliese Fuaga, Rashid Shaheed, Bryan Bresee or Erik McCoy in his pros. That either means he generally doesn’t view the Saints’ young players as a plus, or it just ranks low on the list.
There is probably no greater upside to coming to New Orleans than the weak state of the NFC South. The Buccaneers have won four division titles in a row, but they’ve felt like benefactors of a poor division for at least the last two years. Tampa Bay has lost seven or more games in each of the last three seasons.
The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers are beginning their attempts at ascension. This division is free for the taking, and with the right leadership, the Saints can be the ones to grab it. It’s hard to say you’re ever far away in a division that’s been this bad for so long.
The last three seasons have tanked the Saints’ reputation, but the fan base is still looked at highly. Reggie Bush, also, placed a premium on the connection between the fans, city and a potential head coach. It’s a passionate community, and it’s not hard to become beloved with success.
When Orr labeled the Saints as “a place where moderate success and salesmanship can lead to a long career,” he had to be referencing Dennis Allen getting a third year when some thought he’d be out after Year 2. That description doesn’t fit Sean Payton, but it does fit back to back seasons hovering around .500.
This is just another example of how the view of the organization has dropped recently.
