While the prospect of Sean Payton wanting to return to New Orleans would put team brass in a difficult spot, it is not completely known if that is the case. And the Saints’ current coach has backers in high places.
Dennis Allen is likely to stay on for a second season as Saints HC, according to NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan, who adds ownership and management are still behind Payton’s longtime DC. Allen replaced Payton in February, and while the Saints have taken a step back, Duncan does not anticipate the team making its coach and one-and-done.
A report this week labeled a potential Payton-Saints reunion as the “worst-kept secret,” but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noted earlier this month Allen was likely to receive a second season. The cost component in firing a coach after one season is part of the equation as well, per Duncan.
The NFL has certainly condensed its timetables for coaches in this era, but the Saints have not made any coach even a two-and-done since the 1970s. Under late owner Tom Benson, Mike Ditka and Jim Haslett received at least three seasons. The latter coached for six years, despite the Saints qualifying for just one playoff field — in Haslett’s first season — during that time. Payton changed the game for the Saints and stayed 16 seasons, leaving surprisingly in late January. The current FOX analyst has been researching potential opportunities and may well come back to New Orleans at some point, but a reunion appears to be on hold.
The Saints hold Payton’s rights and would be in position to collect a nice compensation package for the Super Bowl-winning HC, in the event he ends up coaching another team. Payton has been connected to working with ex-Saints assistant Vic Fangio somewhere. That partnership coming to pass in New Orleans could leave Allen, who served under Payton during two Saints stints before succeeding him as HC, out in the cold. But Payton will have other options. Though, the top two teams he has been linked to — the Cowboys and Chargers — do not look likely to fire their current coaches. Both teams have clinched playoff spots.
The Saints did finish under .500 five times under Payton, so Allen’s debut (6-9 presently) is not completely out of step. But New Orleans never lost 10 games with Payton. Drew Brees being under center for 15 of those seasons did help protect against that outcome, however. Allen has not been as fortunate, going from Jameis Winston to Andy Dalton this season. The Saints have improved from 28th to 18th in total offense from last season, which featured a worse QB situation. And they rank ninth in total defense, with their win over the Browns keeping them technically alive for postseason play. FiveThirtyEight gives New Orleans only a 3% chance to make the playoffs, though Duncan adds management is happy with the fight the team has shown down the stretch.
While the Cardinals have also been loosely linked to Payton, Duncan notes this pairing should not be expected. The team still has a decision to make on Kliff Kingsbury, who joined Steve Keim in signing an extension this offseason. But with the Cards falling to 4-11 in Kingsbury’s fourth season, the longtime college coach is squarely on the hot seat. With Payton likely to have options upon returning, taking over a team coming off a dysfunctional 2022 would be a tougher sell compared to other opportunities. Kyler Murray‘s ACL tear certainly does not help matters.