Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Reports: Declan Doyle in as OC as Bears make coaching moves

Bears coach Ben Johnson’s staff is taking shape as he prepares for his first season at the helm, as Chicago hired Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator and brought in Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator, ESPN and NFL Network reported Sunday night.

ESPN also reported that the Bears are keeping special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.

Doyle, 28, will be stepping into the largest role of his career thus far. He was with the Denver Broncos from 2023-24 as the tight ends coach after spending time as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints (2019-22) and a student assistant at Iowa (2016-18).

The 52-year-old Allen has head-coaching experience under his belt, leading New Orleans to an 18-25 record in parts of three seasons (2022-24) long after directing the Raiders, then stationed in Oakland, to an 8-28 mark in parts of three seasons (2012-14).

Allen broke into the NFL coaching scene with the Atlanta Falcons in 2002, and he was with the organization until 2005. He then had his first stint with the Saints, getting reps as the assistant defensive line coach from 2006-07 before taking over as secondary coach in 2008.

Allen has been a defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos (2011) and the Saints (2015-21).

Chicago went 5-12 this season, posting a 4-8 record under Matt Eberflus, who was fired on Nov. 29. The Bears were able to pluck Johnson from the NFC North rival Detroit Lions after the 38-year-old served as their offensive coordinator from 2022-24.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen reacts to a play call against the Denver Broncos during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Saints fire Dennis Allen with losing streak at seven games

Dennis Allen was fired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints on Monday following the team’s seventh consecutive loss.

Allen was 18-25 with the Saints, who won their first two games this season in dominant fashion over the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys before their current nosedive began.

The Saints named special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

In a team release, Saints owner Gayle Benson said the decision to fire Allen was “very tough for me and our organization” but one “I felt we needed to make at this time.”

New Orleans (2-7) lost 23-22 at Carolina on Sunday, blowing a lead and becoming the first team in 20 seasons to lose despite an advantage of 150-plus yards total offense, rushing for 150-plus yards and winning the turnover margin.

Allen, 52, was promoted from his post as defensive coordinator to replace Sean Payton in 2022, when general manager Mickey Loomis cited his familiarity with the culture and roster as a key factor in the decision.

“This season we have had an avalanche of injuries,” Loomis said in the release. “It took its toll. DA has never offered excuses, he fought each day for this organization and this team and that is what makes today disappointing. Dennis has been an integral part of this team’s success for the better part of 20 years. He will be missed.”

Allen was fired as head coach of the then-Oakland Raiders after an 0-4 start in 2014 and then spent seven seasons as Payton’s defensive coordinator in New Orleans.

In two stints covering parts of six seasons as a head coach, Allen has never taken a team to the playoffs.

Allen is the second NFL coach to be fired this season, joining the New York Jets’ Robert Saleh (Oct. 8).

–Field Level Media

Saints head coach Dennis Allen looks on during the second half against the New York Giants at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Saints’ Dennis Allen expects to return in 2024

Dennis Allen expects to return as head coach of the New Orleans Saints next season.

Allen guided the Saints to a 9-8 record and missed out on the playoffs in a tiebreaker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) for the NFC South division title. New Orleans beat the Buccaneers and Falcons in consecutive games to keep its playoff chances alive until the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears to eliminate the Saints.

Asked Monday if he would be back as Saints’ head coach for a third season, Allen said: “That is my expectation — yes.”

“What I said to the team: I was proud of the way our guys continued to fight. I was proud of the way we finished the season,” Allen said. “But I was pissed we put ourselves in that position.”

“9-8, 7-10, 9-8 (the past three seasons), it’s not good enough. Everyone in the building is part of the culpability of that. And so we have to look at, what do we need to change? There’s things that have to be different. That’s part of what we have to do this offseason as an organization. We have to look at, what are we going to do differently? We’re all part of the problem. Now how are we going to figure out how are we going to be part of the solution. That’s what this offseason is going to be about.”

Allen, 51, was the Saints’ defensive coordinator from 2015-21 and followed Sean Payton as head coach in 2022.

Two teams in the division are searching for new coaches.

The Panthers relieved Frank Reich midway through his first season in Carolina and finished with the worst record in the NFL. The Falcons fired Arthur Smith as head coach at the end of his third 7-10 season.

–Field Level Media

Feb 2, 2023; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws the ball during the Pro Bowl Skills competition at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Raiders to let QB Derek Carr visit Saints

The New Orleans Saints requested to meet with quarterback Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders granted the parties permission to do so, NFL Network and The Athletic reported Tuesday.

Carr remains under contract with Las Vegas, but the Raiders benched Carr toward the end of the 2022 regular season and are widely expected to move on from the veteran by either trade or release.

Carr plans to visit New Orleans on Wednesday, per NFL Network.

There’s a strong connection between Carr and Saints head coach Dennis Allen. Carr was a second-round draft pick in 2014 when Allen coached the then-Oakland Raiders. Allen made Carr the starting quarterback but was fired after an 0-4 start.

That was the start of a fruitful run for Carr with the Raiders. He made four Pro Bowls, most recently in 2022, and set major franchise passing records. But the team only made the playoffs twice in Carr’s nine-year stay and never won a playoff game.

The Saints are coming off a 7-10 season in their first year under Allen, who succeeded Sean Payton as coach. Aging veteran Andy Dalton spent most of the season as the starting quarterback after an injury-prone Jameis Winston was relegated to the backup.

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Saints promote DC Dennis Allen to head coach

The New Orleans Saints have promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to become the team’s next head coach, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Allen has served as the Saints’ defensive coordinator since 2015, though his experience with the organization dates back further. He was originally hired as the team’s assistant defensive line coach in 2006 and held multiple titles through 2010.

A successful one-year stint as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator in 2011 led to his hiring by the Oakland Raiders as their head coach in 2012. Allen lasted less than three years in that role, compiling a record of 8-28 before he was fired four games into 2014.

His second stint with the Saints was beneficial to both parties, however. After years of defensive struggle, Allen turned the Saints around in his second full season as coordinator in 2017, getting the Saints into the top half of the league in points and yardage allowed.

He eventually led New Orleans to back-to-back top-10 finishes in yards and points allowed in 2020-21.

Overall, the Saints finished in the top half of the league on defense for five straight seasons under his stewardship. He’ll also bring continuity to an organization that has enjoyed five straight winning seasons.

Allen succeeds Sean Payton, who stepped away from coaching on Jan. 25 with a franchise-best 152-89 record (.631) over 15 seasons.

–Field Level Media