Dennis Allen will assume the reins as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Allen was seen as the front runner to succeed Sean Payton, having served on Payton’s staff as defensive coordinator since 2015. Allen was always seen as the frontrunner, so it isn’t a surprise to Locked on Saints host Ross Jackson that he’s now the man in charge.
“I think that this is something that we saw coming from quite a ways,” said Jackson. “But the Saints still did their due diligence, they did a very expensive coaching search, and still landed with the guy that we thought was going to be the favorite all along in Dennis Allen.”
Allen was previously the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2012-2014, compiling an 8-28 record. During this past season, he filled in for Payton as Coach, leading the Saints to a shutout victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson says Allen understands the culture of this team better than any other candidate the Saints spoke with, and that resonated with Mickey Loomis and the rest of the front office.
“He has been through all the culture shifts of the New Orleans Saints,” Jackson said. “The culture change in 2006 with becoming this winning franchise with a winning mentality. He was a part of the culture change again in 2017 when you saw the Saints go on to make several straight playoff appearances.
“Familiarity with watching not only what works for the New Orleans Saints, but what doesn’t work and how to fix it, I think, are big, big portions in terms of what went into their decision.”
Now Allen will work on filling out his staff, including naming his own replacement at defensive coordinator.
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