Dennis Allen lands Saints head coach job

The New Orleans Saints have decided on a replacement for Sean Payton, and they are promoting from within.

The Saints have informed Dennis Allen that he will be their next head coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Allen has been the Saints’ defensive coordinator since 2015. This is his second stint with the team, as he was also an assistant coach in New Orleans from 2006-2010. The 49-year-old also has previous head coaching experience. He went 8-28 with the then-Oakland Raiders and got fired in his third season with them.

New Orleans has been in the top five in the NFL in points allowed for two seasons in a row. Allen coached the Saints this season while Payton was out due to health and safety protocols, and the Saints shut out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a win.

The Saints cast a wide net with their search to replace Payton, who stepped down last month. They also interviewed Brian Flores and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

The Allen hire bucks the recent trend of teams hiring young offensive coordinators as head coaches, but it is not a surprise move. Payton stunned the Saints when he stepped down, and they are likely hoping Allen will help maintain some stability in the post-Payton era.