Saints fire coach Dennis Allen after seventh loss in row - ESPN

The New Orleans Saints have fired coach Dennis Allen after losing their seventh straight game Sunday, the team announced Monday.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has been named the interim coach.

The Saints won their first two games this season but haven't won since, with their latest loss coming to the Carolina Panthers in a 23-22 defeat.

The Saints got off to about as hot a start as you can have, winning their first two games by 37 and 25 points, respectively. New Orleans has lost seven straight games since then, though.

«Dennis has been part of our organization for many years. He is highly regarded within the NFL. He has been extremely loyal and professional and most importantly an excellent football coach for us. All of this makes today very tough for me and our organization,» Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. «However, this decision is something that I felt we needed to make at this time. I wish nothing but the best in the future for Dennis and his family. He will always be considered in the highest regard by me and everyone within our organization.»

This is the first midseason firing for the Saints since the late Tom Benson purchased the team in 1985. The last in-season firing occurred when Dick Nolan was fired after an 0-12 start to his third season in 1980. The team also made an in-season coaching change in 1996 when Jim Mora resigned after a 2-6 start, and New Orleans then went 1-7 under Rick Venturi.

Allen, who replaced Sean Payton as the coach in 2022, went 18-25 as the team's coach.

«That's a message heard loud and clear.… Got to find a way to win,» one player told ESPN regarding Allen's firing.

This is the first time since 1999 the Saints have lost seven straight games. The team went 3-13