Saints owner provides huge update on GM Mickey Loomis' future

Angry New Orleans Saints fans have been calling for team owner Gayle Benson to fire general manager Mickey Loomis this fall.  However, during a recent chat with Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune, Benson made it clear that Saints supporters who are hoping for Loomis' dismissal will be disappointed. 

Saints owner won't make "ridiculous" Mickey Loomis decision

"It may not be what the fans want to hear, but as far as firing Mickey Loomis, that’s ridiculous," Benson said. "[He] does a great job. Mickey's been one of the top NFL general managers. He's a great guy."

Loomis initially joined the Saints as their director of football administration in 2000, and he was promoted to general manager in 2002. Under his guidance, the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010. However, New Orleans hasn't made the playoffs since suffering a divisional-round loss to the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January 2021. 

While the Saints entered their Week 11 bye coming off a 17-7 win over the Carolina Panthers, that result only improved New Orleans' record to 2-8. 

"I'm very disappointed, as everybody is. But we're in a rebuilding mode," Benson told Duncan. "Mickey said this from the very beginning of the season. But, look, I understand how fans feel. I really do. And I feel bad for the fans, but we told everybody in the beginning, this was gonna be a tough year, and it has been a tough year. They just need to be patient. And I know it's hard to ask them to be patient, but all of us are disappointed. I mean, the whole office over here is disappointed. But we can't just jump ship just because we’re having a horrible season. It doesn't work that way. We're gonna have good times. We're gonna have bad times. And I'm hoping fans will understand." 

Why Gayle Benson believes Saints' future is bright

Kellen Moore's most important task during his first season as New Orleans' head coach is developing rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. Shough is thus far 1-1 across two starts. 

"[Moore] has the makeup to be a very special coach, and I am excited about having him," Benson added. "…It also appears we may have found a young quarterback in Tyler Shough, who has the potential to start for us for many years." 

Benson said that New Orleans "is a young team that is headed in the right direction." It remains to be seen if she'll still think that way when Week 18 is over. 

The Saints next face the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 23. 3-6 Atlanta hosts the 5-5 Panthers this Sunday.