9 games of absolute chaos, and the Saints finally pulled the plug on head coach Dennis Allen. Adam Schefter was the first to drop the news, and let’s just say, New Orleans fans are anything but sad about it. With a brutal 2-7 start practically tanking their playoff hopes, the call for change was getting loud—more like deafening, honestly. Now, all eyes are on who might step in to clean up the mess and give the Saints some life again.

A seven-game losing streak—ouch! But let’s be real: with Allen’s 26-53 career record, this wasn’t exactly a shocker. Fans, analysts, and probably the water boys were all wondering when the Saints would make the move. It’s finally happened, and with Allen out, they’re reportedly handing the reins to assistant head coach and special teams guru Darren Rizzi for now. But word on the street? Rizzi’s not expected to be in the mix long-term. So, let’s see who makes up our Fab 5 to replace Allen.

First up, Bill Belichick. Yep, the GOAT himself who built the Patriots Dynasty. Imagine Belichick, with his 31 playoff wins and eight Super Bowl rings, stepping in to whip the Saints into shape. But it won’t be that easy—Bill’s known for wanting full control, which means GM Mickey Loomis would likely need to step aside. Could Belichick’s no-nonsense style be the cure for what’s ailing the Saints? Sure, but he’d need the keys to the castle… and that might be a tall order.

So, that’s where Rex Ryan enters the fray. The ultimate defensive mind with the swagger to match. Ryan’s no stranger to turning teams around—remember that back-to-back AFC Championship runs with the Jets (in ’09 and in ’10)? Yes, folks, it wasn’t a fluke. He’d bring a fiery edge, and the fans might just love his bold, trash-talking vibe. I mean, Rex has not got a stellar regular season record. But he’s got a winning postseason touch (4-2). So, with a little drag and a push, reach the playoffs and then let Ryan’s magic work. Nah?

How about Josh McDaniels? He’s been around the block (two head-coaching stints), and while he’s not exactly a winning coach with a 20-33 record, he knows offense. Ask Big Bill. McDaniels helped the Patriots set records in 2007 (for scoring the most points). Not that shiny, you say? Well, he also brings six Super Bowl rings to the table. Plus, he’s a whiz at developing quarterbacks, and with the Saints needing a spark on offense, he could be a sneaky pick.

We know you might be feeling iffy and itchy reading his record. Don’t worry because then there’s Robert Saleh. Yes, yes! The recently fired Jets HC and we all know the Gang has not been the same since he left (if so, they have been worse). He’s a defensive mind with a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Seahawks. Saleh’s record might not scream “Super Bowl-bound” (20-36), but he’s known for building an all-out defensive team with a tinge of added grit and vigor. Who doesn’t love a coach who’s all about building a tough, no-excuses squad?

Those make up the four, who could take up the reins. As for who y’all are rooting for: Drew Brees. Yeah, that’s right. Saints fans are practically begging for their beloved #9 to return—this time on the sidelines. I mean, can you imagine Brees, clipboard in hand, rallying the team he led for nearly two decades? It’s a long shot, considering he has no coaching experience. But that would have been some comeback.

Dennis Allen leaves with a sour record (and no goodbyes)

Now, back to Dennis Allen and his time in New Orleans. ‘Not fun until it ended,’ sorta vibes. Yeah, it s-cks. But it is what is. And, alas, this is the truth that fans are buzzing over the news of his firing. And you can bet that the Saints fans were buzzing more than New York when the Jets fired Robert Saleh.

After all, an 18-24 record as head coach doesn’t exactly scream “future Hall of Famer.” Sure, his defenses were tough as nails, but the offense? Flat, uninspiring, and, at times, painful to watch. Playoff hopes? Squashed. For three straight seasons post-Brees, New Orleans couldn’t punch their ticket to the big dance, and fans had enough of it.

You guys might cook us for it, but hear us out: Allen wasn’t all bad. Yup, we know, please read on… He was great in his role under Sean Payton, helping build a defense that finished top-10 in scoring over four seasons. But in the head coach’s seat? Nothing seemed to click. Are we on the same page now?

Injuries certainly didn’t help—Chris Olave with yet another concussion, Derek Carr missing games, and a battered O-line made things look bleak. And while GM Mickey Loomis and owner Gayle Benson acknowledged his resilience, fighting through each setback, the wins just weren’t there. As Benson put it, “This decision is something I felt we needed to make at this time.”

Do we want more spice on it? Heck yeah, why not? This is the Saints’ first firing since 1980—in the mid-season. Allen’s made it into the history books, but not how he wanted. The last straw? Watching the Saints slip behind the Falcons and, of all teams, the Panthers, in the NFC South standings. At 2-7, it was clear this wasn’t the revival Saints fans had hoped for.

Guess there’s another reason fans are ‘wanting’ Drew Brees back—not so much as a serious candidate, but hey, they’re grasping at straws here. Remember, Brees led the underdog Saints to their first Super Bowl win, a 31–17 victory over the Colts in SB XLIV. That’s something he achieved as a quarterback—a milestone Dennis Allen, unfortunately, couldn’t replicate as head coach.