The Saints have been on the head coach search over the past week, and they are going through all their options. This is good, their not rushing a decision, their making sure they make the right one, the most important staff decision in 16 years.
After the surprise announcement of Sean Payton’s retirement, the Saints have looked both outside the building and looked within the team to see who is the best option for the team. Realistically the Saints will promote from within and go with Dennis Allen, who has earned himself another stint as a head coach.
Without Sean Payton, the quarterback position is looked at very differently, and for a more in depth reasoning as to how the Saints will approach the quarterback position this offseason here’s an article all about that: https://whodattnation.com/2022/01/26/how-do-the-saints-approach-quarterback-without-sean-payton/
Who will the Saints go with? A defensive coach? An offensive coach? Here are all of the guys they’ve interviewed/will interview and their qualifications.
Dennis Allen, Saints DC
Likely the front runner for the Saints head coach. Allen and the Saints will interview on either Wednesday or Thursday. He’s been a big part of the Saints success since 2015 turning one of the league’s worst defenses for three straight years into one of the league’s most dominant defenses. After his head coaching stint in 2014, Allen deserves another chance and allows the Saints to retain Allen and likely Kris Richard as defensive coordinator. With Allen as head coach, we could see a push to get Derek Carr, who was drafted under Allen as the Raiders head coach. Dennis Allen went 8-28 as a head coach prior to joining the Saints.
Brian Flores, Ex-Dolphins HC
Probably the second favorite or close to favorite as the next head coach. The two parties are set to meet Tuesday at the Senior Bowl. The two had dinner Monday night as the Saints sent their top officials in Mobile Alabama, likely discussing football and getting to know each other rather than it being an official head coaching meeting. As an assistant coach, Flores has won four Super Bowls and knows what it takes to win. Flores has been a coach in all three phases of the game: an offensive coach, defensive coach, and special teams and started his NFL coaching career as a scout. The thing with Flores is his defensive scheme. He might want to change things up into a zone defense which is not what the team has had success doing. The team is built to run man coverage and the defense would have to be left alone if Flores joins the Saints. Since joining the Dolphins in 2019, Flores went 24-25 as the Dolphins head coach. Going with Brian Flores will attract Deshaun Watson to the Saints, which will require to trade a crap load of picks which the Saints would possibly get back in a trade for Sean Payton down the line.
Aaron Glenn, Lions DC
The Saints plan to interview the team’s former secondary coach on Wednesday. Glenn was one of the guys Allen brought on board the team in 2016 until the Lions made him their defensive coordinator last offseason. Glenn is a respected coach around the league and knows how to win games as well with a talented team. He’s been around guys like Bill Parcells and Sean Payton long enough to know how to be the head coach of a professional football team. He has 25 years of experience in the NFL as a player, front office man, and a coach. An overall respected guy who at some point will get a shot as a head coach.
Doug Pederson, Ex-Eagles HC
A Super Bowl winning coach and a close friend of Sean Payton, Doug Pederson met with the Saints on Sunday. Pederson played quarterback and knows what it takes to win. He played behind Brett Farve and Dan Marino and turned Carson Wentz into an MVP quarterback. He started his coaching career under Andy Reid in Philadelphia then followed him to Kansas City. He then returned to Philadelphia as the head coach and won the Super Bowl his second season. Pederson could make things work with a guy like Jameis Winston or go after a rookie and keep the team competitive. Wouldn’t be my personal top choice but wouldn’t be upset at it. As a head coach Pederson is. 46-39-1 goin 4-2 in the postseason.
Darren Rizzi, Saints ST Coach
Another coach from within the building that will be a candidate for the Saints head coach and will interview later on this week with Darren Rizzi. Rizzi has been with the Saints since 2019 and contributed to finding guys like J.t Gray (all pro), Andrew Dowell, Blake Gillikin, usage of Ty Montgomery and quite a bit more. Rizzi started his NFL coaching career on the Dolphins as the special teams coordinator in 2010 and then was promoted to associate head coach & special teams coordinator for the Dolphins from 2017-2018. He was an assistant coach at Colgate college, then went on to be a defensive coordinator at New Haven. After that he was a special teams coordinator at Northeastern for a year and then became the Rhode Island head coach in 2008 going 18-23 as a head coach in college.
Byron Leftwich, Bucs OC
Nothing has been announced as to when the Saints will meet with Leftwich. The Saints requested to interview him and have revived permission to interview Leftwich. Leftwich started his coaching career in 2017 as the Cardinals quarterback coach and then was promoted to interim offensive coordinator in 2018. After that he went over to Tampa Bay and now is a head coaching candidate around the league.
Chiefs OC, Eric Bieniemy
The Saints want to speak with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and should could have their interview done on Saturday. Bieniemy has been the play caller for the Chiefs and their offensive coordinator since 2018 after being the running back coach from 2013 to 2017. Prior to being a Kansas City mastermind he was the Vikings running back coach from 2006 to 2009. He started his coaching career at Colorado as a running back coach from 2001 to 2002 and returned as the offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2012. He also spent time in UCLA as the running back coach from 2003 to 2005.
When more news about coaches is reported we’ll be here to cover it.
Written by Kadin Janisch
