The New Orleans Saints took their time in identifying options to step in as their next head coach, patiently working through a strong, diverse list of candidates over nearly two weeks. Days’ worth of interviews led them to a conclusion that they feel is the best direction to guide the team: promoting longtime defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that the Saints informed Allen he’s won the job.
Allen, 49, has been a head coach before — though his Raiders tenure is maybe best forgotten. He’s learned a lot during the decade since that stint, taking over the reeling Saints defense from Rob Ryan in 2015 and building it into the strength of the team. Promoting him to head coach not only gets someone with plenty of experience in that role; it also allows the rest of the coaching staff to remain intact, keeping the best people in the best positions to do their jobs.
We’re at a fascinating crossroads. The Saints have enough pieces in place right now to pull off a rare feat and smoothly transition from one successful era under one coach into a new period of playing winning football. If this hire works out as planned, New Orleans might be seen in the same light as other NFL blue bloods like Green Bay and Pittsburgh. It’s a tantalizing possibility, and something older fans who came up when the Saints were a laughingstock at best might have never imagined.
But that’s underselling how much work the new coach has ahead of them. They’ve got to take a hard look at the roster and the coaching staff and determine whether everything is as it should be. They’ve got the means to shake things up with the help of a progressive, forward-thinking and aggressive front office. It’s anyone’s guess as to how the post-Sean Payton era will play out, but the Saints have followed a good process to get here, and that often leads to good results.
