Things are picking up in the NFL coaching carousel — Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is going to the Chicago Bears, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that ex-New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is “the leading candidate” to join him as defensive coordinator.
Allen previously interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts for the same position, but they reportedly went with longtime Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo instead. That frees up Allen to join Johnson in Chicago.
And wouldn’t you know it, but the Saints have a road game with the Bears scheduled for 2025. So they could see Allen patrolling the opposing sideline as soon as this fall if he gets this job.
He’s a tough out as a defensive play caller. That was always Allen’s best fit with the Saints, and even if the biggest critics of his shortcomings as a head coach would have to agree he knows how to run a defense when that’s his sole focus.
