Dennis Allen was fired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints on Monday following the team’s seventh consecutive loss.
Allen was 18-25 with the Saints, who won their first two games this season in dominant fashion over the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys before their current nosedive began.
New Orleans (2-7) lost 23-22 at Carolina on Sunday, blowing a lead and becoming the first team in 20 seasons to lose despite an advantage of 150-plus yards total offense, rushing for 150-plus yards and winning the turnover margin.
Reports indicated the Saints would be placing the interim head coach label on assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for the rest of the season.
Allen, 52, was promoted from his post as defensive coordinator to replace Sean Payton in 2022, when general manager Mickey Loomis cited his familiarity with the culture and roster as a key factor in the decision.
Allen was fired as head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders after an 0-4 start in 2014 and then spent seven seasons as Payton’s defensive coordinator in New Orleans.
In two stints covering parts of six seasons as a head coach, Allen has never taken a team to the playoffs.