B/R
The New Orleans Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen on Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Saints were defeated by the Carolina Panthers in Week 9, losing 23-22 and extending their losing streak to seven games. Following a 2-0 start to the season, New Orleans fell to last place in the NFC South following the loss to Carolina.
Fans and former players called out Allen and the Saints on social media after the reported firing.
Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has been named New Orleans’ interim coach, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Allen finished with a record of 18-25 with the Saints, missing the playoffs in each of his two full seasons leading the team. He became the first head coach to get fired by New Orleans in the middle of the season since 1980 (h/t Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune).
The latest defeat was especially disappointing, as the Panthers entered the contest with a 1-7 record as well as a five-game losing streak of their own. New Orleans also previously took down Carolina in Week 1, securing a lopsided 47-10 win.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell noted that the Saints won the turnover battle, rushed for over 150 yards and gained over 150 more total yards than the Panthers on Sunday. Prior to the loss, teams that met those requirements in a single game owned a record of 275-0.
Multiple players on Allen’s defense expressed frustration with the loss on social media after the game, including defensive end Cameron Jordan and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders.
Despite Allen’s history as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator from 2015 through 2021, issues with stopping opponents became evident throughout the team’s current losing streak.
The Saints have allowed 376.4 yards and 25.4 points per game this season. Those averages represent the fifth and seventh-worst marks among all NFL teams, respectively.
As New Orleans attempts to put an end to its seven-game skid against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10, Allen will no longer be patrolling the sidelines.
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