It appears that Saints fans can anticipate a continuation of the same in 2024. Mickey Loomis, the New Orleans Saints executive vice president and general manager, conducted his customary end-of-season press conference on Wednesday. Despite firing veteran offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael on Tuesday, Loomis remained resolute in his choice not to complete the transition by dismissing head coach Dennis Allen. When questioned about the decision to retain Allen, Loomis drew upon the examples of legendary coaches who commenced their careers with less-than-stellar records. He underscored the need to look beyond the surface-level results and consider various factors contributing to the team’s performance.

With a current record of 24-26, Allen holds the lowest win percentage of any active head coach in the league at 34.3%. However, Loomis emphasized the importance of maintaining the current trajectory, citing a similar approach throughout the post-Brees-Payton era. Despite the lack of notable success, the Saints have continuously favored sticking with familiar figures. Tepid measures, including deferred payments and reluctance to invest in rookie quarterbacks, characterize the team’s efforts to sustain the roster. The Saints have also experienced difficulties in finding viable replacements for key positions, such as offensive coordinator, adhering to a deliberate hiring process.

Under Allen’s leadership, the Saints’ defensive performance has declined, and Carmichael’s offense has experienced a significant drop in rankings since the departure of Drew Brees and Sean Payton. With the team’s oldest roster in the league and ongoing financial constraints, persistent struggles on the field indicate a need for reevaluation and restructuring. Despite the mounting challenges and underwhelming results, the Saints continue to adhere to a conservative and deliberate approach, overlooking the pressing need for comprehensive change.