As news continues to pour in regarding coaching and general manager changes, no such shifts seem to be looming in New Orleans. Saints head coach Dennis Allen said on Monday (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell) that he expects to remain in place for 2024. 
Like the rest of the NFC South, the Saints were the subject of speculation regarding their head coaching future throughout the year. Allen had been reported as being on the hot seat, something which came as little surprise given the team’s offensive struggles in particular. More recent signs did point, however, to Allen being safe regardless of New Orleans’ end to the campaign.
The 51-year-old was promoted to head coach in 2022 to replace Sean Payton. The move came after he had spent the past seven years on New Orleans’ staff as defensive coordinator, and that unit has remained strong over the past two campaigns. Shortcomings at the quarterback position were a talking point this past offseason, though, and the team made a major move in the form of adding quarterback Derek Carr.
By and large, the four-time Pro Bowler did not live up to the expectations generated by his four-year, $150MM pact. A number of issues contributed to his struggles early in the year in particular as he and the team’s skill-position corps dealt with injuries and the season-opening suspension to running back Alvin Kamara. New Orleans finished the year ranked only 13th in passing yards per game and 15th in total offense (although the team managed to check in at ninth in scoring).
For that reason, changes to the offensive staff have been mentioned as a distinct possibility. OC Pete Carmichael could be on the hot seat, although no firm decisions on his fate have been made yet. The Saints improved in Allen’s second year at the helm, posting a 9-8 record in 2023 after going 7-10 the year before. The veteran-laden squad was unable to win an underwhelming NFC South once again, though, which represents a point of consternation.
In spite of that, Allen (who has yet to receive an official vote of confidence at this point) appears to be on track for a third year in charge. Several key offseason decisions lie ahead, and the franchise will no doubt continue its annual tradition of signficant contract restructures this winter. While changes will be made in some capacity, continuity on the sidelines can be expected.
If he gets fired we need to see him and Arthur Smith in a boxing exhibition.
Arthur Smith might be the most unlikable guy in football. He’s worse than Jim Swartz and Nick Sirianni.
The Saints must love spinning around the wheel of mediocrity. That team is in desperate need of a reset
I think that that’s the perfect way to explain Dennis Allen. Is the worst? No. Is he very good? No, not really.
For all of the grumbling about Carr, I don’t think that he played that badly. The offense as a whole didn’t wow anyone, and there are plenty of pieces that I’d consider a higher priority than Carr to replace. The defense is getting to be an issue, though, and Allen is supposed to be in charge of fixing that. I’ve never been terribly impressed with him as a playcaller, but the Saints have stocked their defense with talent for the last few years. Now that that talent is diminishing or aging out, Allen’s going to have to step up if the Saints want to improve on 2023 and become real contenders.
I’d say Dennis Allen is pretty close to the bottom among head coaches. He’s been awful going back to his time with the Raiders. He’s much better suited as a defensive coordinator