Dennis Allen sends strong message to Saints fans and New Orleans after getting fired on Monday
The New Orleans Saints made the tough decision to cut ties with Dennis Allen on Monday after the team's Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Allen made his feelings public after the news was released. He was grateful for the opportunity in New Orleans. Dennis Allen's message “Of course I’m disappointed but I love […]
The New Orleans Saints made the tough decision to cut ties with Dennis Allen on Monday after the team's Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Allen made his feelings public after the news was released. He was grateful for the opportunity in New Orleans.
Dennis Allen's message
“Of course I’m disappointed but I love that organization, I love the people in there and will always have so much love for the city of New Orleans. I always will!”
— Dennis Allen via Jay Glazer
Glazer also noted that Allen was disappointed but had nothing but love for the Saints organization and city of New Orleans. There was no ill will from the now former head coach.
Allen also released a statement via the team on Monday morning.
"I want to take this opportunity to first and foremost thank Gayle Benson for the opportunity to be the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. The organization will always be near and dear to my heart and I am disappointed the results weren't better. I also want to thank Mickey Loomis for the support he and his staff provided throughout the entire time I was with the organization.
I am proud to have worked alongside some great coaches, both as an assistant and during my time as the head coach. To those men, I am sincerely grateful for the time and effort they put into their jobs. I am also grateful for the entire staff that worked hard to provide the support and will miss our daily interactions.
To every player, thank you for your efforts and contributions. As I said on Sunday, I never questioned your dedication and resolve and I am sorry the results weren't better, because they were certainly deserved.
Lastly, to the Saints fans and residents of New Orleans, I want to thank you for your unwavering passion and support of the team. I realize what a privilege it is to coach a special franchise in a great city and I will fondly remember the opportunity I had to coach the Saints. I wish everyone with the Saints the best of luck and success going forward." — Dennis Allen via New Orleans Saints
For Allen, this is certainly a difficult pill to swallow, but he did find some success with New Orleans. For a bulk of his time as defensive coordinator under Sean Payton, the Saints boasted a top-flight defense in the NFC. They played with energy and grit.
Ultimately, the head coaching aspect never fully worked out for him, though. It was his second stint as an NFL HC, and neither opportunity has gone well. Allen owns the worst winning percentage of any head coach in the last thirty years.
The search begins for the Saints' new HC. At the same time, it will be interesting to see if Allen lands elsewhere as a defensive coordinator or assistant coach once again.
5 emerging head coach candidates for the Saints after firing Dennis Allen
Plenty of notable names.
