The New Orleans Saints have promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to become the team’s next head coach, multiple outlets reported Monday.
Allen has served as the Saints’ defensive coordinator since 2015, though his experience with the organization dates back further. He was originally hired as the team’s assistant defensive line coach in 2006 and held multiple titles through 2010.
A successful one-year stint as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator in 2011 led to his hiring by the Oakland Raiders as their head coach in 2012. Allen lasted less than three years in that role, compiling a record of 8-28 before he was fired four games into 2014.
His second stint with the Saints was beneficial to both parties, however. After years of defensive struggle, Allen turned the Saints around in his second full season as coordinator in 2017, getting the Saints into the top half of the league in points and yardage allowed.
He eventually led New Orleans to back-to-back top-10 finishes in yards and points allowed in 2020-21.
Overall, the Saints finished in the top half of the league on defense for five straight seasons under his stewardship. He’ll also bring continuity to an organization that has enjoyed five straight winning seasons.
Allen succeeds Sean Payton, who stepped away from coaching on Jan. 25 with a franchise-best 152-89 record (.631) over 15 seasons.
–Field Level Media