The New Orleans Saints made headlines by firing head coach Dennis Allen after a dismal 2-7 start, punctuated by a crushing loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was appointed as interim head coach, and the team has seen immediate improvement, securing two consecutive wins to reach a 4-7 record. However, Rizzi’s path to becoming the permanent head coach remains challenging, with a near-flawless performance required to keep his spot.
NFL insider Albert Breer addressed the situation in his weekly Sports Illustrated mailbag, highlighting two possible candidates for the position. He stated:
“If they get to, say, nine wins, the idea of going forward with Darren Rizzi as head coach might have legs. If the roster shows well the rest of the year and they don’t quite make it there, then perhaps Loomis would be on the trigger for the coaching search.”
Breer named Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn as a strong contender, noting Glenn’s past success with the Saints as a defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2020.
Glenn, who has significantly improved the Lions’ defense since joining in 2021, is expected to draw multiple head coaching interviews this offseason. Breer explained:
“My guess is that Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn would be a prime target. Loomis loved Dan Campbell as a prospective head coach when he had him in-house, and former Saints assistant Glenn has many of the same strengths as Campbell.”
While Rizzi’s current momentum is promising, he will need to achieve an extraordinary turnaround to secure the job. Meanwhile, Glenn’s familiarity with the Saints organization and his recent success make him an attractive candidate.
The Saints’ decision will likely hinge on Rizzi’s performance and how the team navigates the remaining games.
