“Saints owner Mickey Loomis did not agree with the firing of Dennis Allen”

The longest-serving pure GM in the NFL, Mickey Loomis has held this gig in New Orleans since 2002. However, he has only hired two head coaches, although only DC Dennis Allen then take over Sean Payton's output (Loomis was set during Jim Haslett(six-year HC term). Barring a change in the front office, that number will increase to three next year.

However, if Loomis had his way, Allen could still coach the Saints. It is believed that the 23rd year GM was unwilling to fire the HC in the team's third year, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, who states that ownership was responsible for this fall.

From a Saints fanbase that hasn't experienced a season with six or fewer wins since 2005, this is Gayle BensonThe front group pulled the plug. Breer even goes so far as to point out that the owners were so committed to this move that even if the Saints had done so, Allen could have been fired won the Week 9 matchup with the downtrodden Panthers. The Saints had lost by double digits in each of their last four games, with the Buccaneers scoring 51 points on the day.

Allen has been given two chances as head coach. This one went better than his Raiders stint, which took place in the early years Mark Davis' Property. Allen went 8-28 as Raiders HC, and that too Derek Carr was Oakland's quarterback when Davis dropped Allen, the two-time Payton assistant coach, in October 2014 Carson Palmer in 2012 — before the QB's resurgence in Arizona — and then oversaw an unenviable situation in 2013 Terrelle Pryor And Matt McGloin Combination for 15 starts. Allen posted a 4-12 record in each of his first two Raiders seasons and followed a 7-10 record in 2022 with a 9-8 record last year. However, his third season with New Orleans HC was reminiscent of the dark times in Oakland.

The Saints started 2-0, worth seeing Klint Kubiaks offense became a central storyline in the NFL in September before losing seven straight. This is the Saints' longest losing streak since 1999 Mike DitkaThe final ended with a score of 3:13. Rumors of Allen's firing began to surface toward the end of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but Loomis has resisted calls to fire the coach each year. The decision to keep Allen after the '23 season surprised some Saints players.

Recently retired O-lineman James Hurst said this week that some players expected Loomis Allen to be fired after the team's Week 18 win over the Falcons – a game that sealed the deal Arthur SmithFate in Atlanta. New Orleans' 2023 season famously ends with a backup QB Jameis Winston goes rogue and avoids Allen's plans for a kneeling scene Jamaal Williams a chance to score a touchdown last season. Williams, who led the NFL in rushing TDs in 2022, had yet to score at this point last year. The Saints defeated the Falcons 48-17, with Williams' TD coming with 1:10 left. Smith expressed his displeasure with Allen after the game and then apologized for his team's actions.

Hurst, now with WDSU, said on a recent broadcast that many players felt Allen missed an opportunity to help them after that season-ending win – even when the offense didn't obey the second-year HC. Hurst added that Loomis contacted the players a day later and gave them the expectation that Allen would be fired. Of course that didn't happen. After all, the Saints have won four of their last five games in 2023. This year's edition is now 2-7 and will be looking for outside employment for the first time since Loomis hired Payton in 2006.

Allen's failure to publicly stand up for his players has created a legitimate problem, adds Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The losing streak, while it included some serious injuries, may have further solidified the notion that Allen has lost the locker room. However, Loomis doesn't seem to entirely agree with this.

Allen, who was Payton's assistant from 2006 to 2010 and returned to the Raiders after he was fired, played a key role in helping the Saints turn their defensive operations around after a difficult stretch in the mid-2010s. After finishing in the top half in both scoring and yardage in 2017-19, Allen's defense ranked in the top 10 in points allowed in 2020-23. This season, however, Allen's veteran-filled unit finished Week 9 ranked 26th in that category.

If Loomis was indeed unwilling to fire Allen, both of his in-season firings this year have played out that way. Jets owner Woody Johnson went around GM Joe Douglas can Robert Saleh last month. It will be interesting to see how Benson and Loomis coexist as the search for Allen's full-time successor begins in earnest.