Saints to hire Dennis Allen as new head coach, per report

Former Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen will be the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Allen, 49, was the Raiders' head coach for three seasons after he was hired in 2012, but finished his tenure with an 8-28 record when he was fired just four games into the 2014 season. He was scooped up by the Saints as a defensive assistant in 2015 and has been with the franchise ever since.

In his first season with New Orleans, Allen was promoted to defensive coordinator following the dismissal of Rob Ryan from the role.

The Saints finished bottom five in points allowed and yards allowed in Allen's first full season on the job but climbed up the NFL ranks in subsequent years. New Orleans was fifth in points allowed in 2020 and fourth in 2021.

Sean Payton retired as head coach of the Saints after the 2021 season with a 152-89 record. New Orleans went to the playoffs in nine of Payton's 15 seasons at the helm and won Super Bowl XLIV.