Saints naming Dennis Allen as next head coach

Being the successor to long-time New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton also means being the successor to the winningest coach in franchise history.

Who better to embrace that pressure than someone who’s already proven he can win even when Payton’s not around?

As first reported by ESPN, the Saints have informed defensive coordinator Dennis Allen of their plans to hire him as the next head coach.

Allen has served as the team’s DC since 2015, following his first head coaching stint with the then Oakland Raiders from 2012 to 2014 in which he just went 8-28 before being fired four games into the 2014 season.

Under Allen’s watch last season, the Saints ranked seventh in total defense and fourth in scoring defense at less than 20 points per game.

Allen also served as interim head coach for Payton when he was out with COVID-19 for the team’s week 15 road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Saints proceeded to shut out Tom Brady and company 9-0.

Overall, Allen is going on year 13 with the Saints organization.