The New Orleans Saints are at a pivotal crossroads in their franchise’s history. After a disappointing 2024 season, the team’s leadership is under scrutiny, with the search for a new head coach at the forefront of conversations. The Saints, once a dominant force in the NFC South under Sean Payton, are now in search of a leader who can restore the franchise to its former glory. Unfortunately for the team and its loyal fanbase, the latest updates in the head coaching search have cast a shadow over the organization’s future, offering a grim outlook for what lies ahead.
### A Season of Disappointment and Uncertainty
The Saints’ 2024 season, which promised hope following a roster overhaul, ended in disarray. Despite a promising start, the team failed to find consistent play at key positions, including quarterback and wide receiver, and the defense, once a hallmark of the team, struggled at times to maintain the standard set in previous years. This failure to execute on both sides of the ball led to a mid-season shift in leadership. By the end of the season, speculation was rampant that the Saints were on the verge of parting ways with their head coach, Dennis Allen.
Allen, who was promoted to head coach after Payton’s departure in 2022, has had a turbulent tenure. Despite inheriting a solid defense and a franchise with a rich winning tradition, Allen has been unable to replicate the success Payton enjoyed in New Orleans. The team’s inability to reach the playoffs in both of Allen’s seasons at the helm has sparked growing frustration within the fanbase and front office. Allen’s lack of success, coupled with the Saints’ inability to secure a long-term solution at quarterback, left the team in a precarious situation heading into the 2025 offseason.
The timing of the head coaching search couldn’t be more critical. With a roster in flux, a new coach is expected to be the guiding hand that helps the Saints rebuild their identity. However, the latest updates on the search process have cast doubt on the team’s ability to find the right candidate.
### Grim Update: What We Know About the Coaching Search
In the past month, reports have emerged that indicate the Saints’ head coaching search is facing significant roadblocks. According to multiple sources within the league, New Orleans has struggled to gain traction in its efforts to attract high-profile candidates, leading to concerns about the team’s appeal as a coaching destination. While the Saints are still reportedly conducting interviews and reaching out to various candidates, the situation is far from ideal.
#### Limited Interest from Top Candidates
One of the most troubling developments in the coaching search is the lack of enthusiasm from some of the top candidates the Saints have pursued. Several prominent assistant coaches and former head coaches, including names like Eric Bieniemy, Ben Johnson, and Jim Harbaugh, have reportedly expressed hesitation or outright declined the opportunity to interview with New Orleans.
This is a critical issue for the Saints, as these names represent some of the most coveted candidates on the market. Bieniemy, currently the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, has long been regarded as one of the top coaching prospects, but his failure to land a head coaching job has raised questions about his future in the NFL. Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, has received significant praise for his work in developing the Lions’ offense and was seen as a potential game-changer for the Saints’ struggling attack. However, reports suggest that Johnson has shown little interest in the position, opting instead to remain with Detroit for another year.
Even Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of Michigan, was rumored to be on the Saints’ radar, but the latest updates suggest that he may have no interest in leaving his post in college football. Harbaugh’s success at Michigan and his history of success in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers made him an attractive option, but his reluctance to entertain NFL offers could be a significant setback for the Saints’ search.
#### Concerns About the Franchise’s Direction
The lack of interest from high-caliber candidates points to a more fundamental issue: uncertainty about the direction of the franchise. The Saints are in the midst of a rebuilding phase, but their cap situation is one of the worst in the NFL. New Orleans has long struggled with managing its salary cap, and the franchise finds itself in another position where significant moves need to be made in order to free up cap space for the future. This financial strain could be deterring potential coaches, as they may not want to inherit a roster that’s currently in financial disarray, with limited resources to improve through free agency.
Additionally, the quarterback position remains unsettled. While the Saints have talent on their roster, they’ve yet to find a reliable leader at quarterback. Derek Carr was brought in as a high-profile signing in 2024, but he has struggled to live up to expectations, raising questions about his long-term viability. A head coach coming in may feel that the Saints are not the most desirable place for a quarterback to thrive without significant investment in that position.
The uncertainty about the team’s future, both in terms of finances and personnel, means that top-tier coaching candidates may be hesitant to take on the challenge of rebuilding the team. The Saints are not the perennial contender they once were, and that reality could be driving some of the league’s top candidates to look elsewhere.
#### Internal Candidates: A Short-Term Solution?
With the top names in the coaching search either declining or uninterested, some reports indicate that the Saints are turning to internal candidates as potential short-term solutions. Among the names being considered for a promotion are defensive coordinator Dennis Allen (who may be retained as head coach for the 2025 season) and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who has been with the team for several years.
While keeping someone internal may offer continuity, it also suggests a lack of viable external options. Allen, who took over as head coach in 2022, has had his fair share of challenges, and a second consecutive season without playoff contention could make his job security tenuous. Likewise, promoting Carmichael—who has been in charge of the offense for several years but has struggled to find success—could be viewed as a stopgap measure rather than a long-term solution.
If the Saints are forced to settle for an internal candidate, it could signal a delay in the team’s recovery, meaning another season of mediocrity while the franchise searches for the right leader to turn things around. While internal promotions may offer familiarity, they come with their own set of challenges and limitations.
### What’s Next for the Saints?
The Saints’ head coaching search has taken an unexpected and concerning turn. The lack of interest from top-tier candidates, combined with the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future, suggests that New Orleans could be in for a long and difficult offseason. The Saints will need to assess their options carefully and consider what kind of leadership is necessary to steer the franchise back toward contention.
Whether they end up promoting from within or making a bold move for a coach with a proven track record, one thing is clear: the franchise cannot afford another misstep. With the cap situation, quarterback questions, and a roster full of potential but also need for development, the Saints’ next head coach must be a visionary leader, someone who can motivate and develop players while navigating a challenging rebuilding phase.
As fans, players, and front-office personnel wait for clarity on the future of the franchise, the grim update serves as a reminder that the Saints’ path back to the top will be neither quick nor easy. But in the NFL, hope springs eternal, and for a franchise with the history and tradition of the New Orleans Saints, the right hire could be the catalyst for the team’s resurgence.