The Chicago Bears added a plethora of interviews over the last week. The latest name on that list is New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. He’s been with New Orleans for seven seasons and recently got the opportunity to fill in for Saints head coach Sean Payton.
Heading into Week 15, Payton tested positive for COVID-19. Dennis Allen was thrust into the role of head coach prior to a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the time, the Saints were ranked 11th in scoring defense. They ranked sixth in run defense, only allowing 95 yards per game and 11th in total defense.
Dennis Allen as Head Coach and Previous Experience
The New Orleans Saints shut out the Buccaneers 9-0 in Week 15 on one of the strangest Sunday Night Football matchups of the 2021 season. The Saints allowed over 300 yards of total offense but kept Tom Brady and company off the scoreboard.
Dennis Allen spent the last seven seasons as the Saints defensive coordinator. His first season with the Saints was 2015 and his defense has gotten progressively better ever since. They climbed the defensive rankings and in three of the last five years, ranked in the top six for interceptions. This is a specific area in which the Chicago Bears lacked, only picking off opposing quarterbacks eight times in 2021.
Allen has previous head coaching experience. He spent three seasons as the Raiders head coach but Oakland fired him after Week 4 in 2014. Allen led the Raiders to consecutive 4-12 seasons followed by an 0-4 start, which led to his firing.
The Chicago Bears will interview Dennis Allen on Tuesday, Jan. 25. This is possibly their last interview for now, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
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