New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was asked during a press conference 41 minutes in if firing former coach Dennis Allen halfway through a 5-12 season was an admission of a problem.
“Absolutely,” Loomis replied. “But that isn’t just about the coach. We need to evaluate ourselves. I have to assess how I’m operating and how everyone in football operations is working, even down to the injury issues. There are many factors that contribute to a successful program, and we need to look at all of them.”
He added, “Just because the results weren’t what we wanted, it doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong. It means we need to review everything and be honest with ourselves. We need to say, ‘We didn’t do well in that area. How can we improve?'”
Loomis had been mostly optimistic during the first part of the conference. However, his tone shifted compared to the previous year when he defended Allen by citing Hall of Fame coaches who took multiple seasons to turn things around.
Loomis said he doesn’t regret his earlier comments, even though Allen was fired less than 10 months later. Allen shared in a podcast interview with Jay Glazer that Loomis wasn’t in favor of the move.
“I don’t want to get into that except to say, it was an organizational decision, and I’m part of the organization,” Loomis stated.
The big question for the Saints now is how to rebuild the franchise, especially after missing the playoffs for four straight seasons. Issues like poor performance, salary cap problems, and aging players have become major hurdles as the team searches for a new head coach.
Loomis, who has been the longest-serving general manager in the NFL since 2002, is under scrutiny. Only Cincinnati Bengals’ player personnel director Duke Tobin and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have been in similar roles for longer than Loomis. He emphasized that he’s not thinking about stepping down or retiring.
“I’m passionate about the sport and about the Saints,” Loomis said with a laugh. “If I ever felt like my ability to do the job was declining, I’d be the first to admit it. So no, retirement isn’t on my mind. Getting back to the playoffs and winning is what I’m focused on.”
New Orleans has not made the playoffs since the 2020 season, the year Drew Brees retired, and just before Sean Payton left. The Saints also face another offseason with salary cap struggles, likely needing to clear at least $50 million in space.
The team holds the No. 9 pick in the draft, which could be significant but might not be enough to secure a top quarterback without trading up. This creates uncertainty over who will be the starting quarterback in 2025, especially since current starter Derek Carr carries a $51.4 million cap hit and is due $40 million in cash this offseason.
Loomis expressed confidence in Carr, who finished the season with a 14-13 record as a starter but missed seven games in 2024 due to two separate injuries.
“We don’t have the first pick in the draft, so it’s not a guarantee,” Loomis said. “I like what Spencer [Rattler] did this season, and I like Jake Haener. I have faith in Derek. We have options, and the new coach will also have a say in this. We’ll come together to figure out the plan.”
The Saints also face the challenge of an aging roster, with eight of their Week 1 starters aged 30 or older, assuming they return for the 2025 season. Six of these players are among the team’s highest-paid, and some, like Taysom Hill, will be recovering from injuries in the offseason.
Loomis, who has always been cautious about using the word “rebuild,” again avoided it.
“‘Rebuild’ means different things to different people,” Loomis explained. “You can turn a season around quickly in the NFL, as we’ve seen with other teams. There are some good things on our roster, but there are areas where we need to make adjustments. A lot will depend on the vision the new head coach brings. There are many questions I can’t answer right now.”
Loomis said he and the Saints’ leadership team, including assistant general managers Khai Harley and Jeff Ireland, and player personnel director Michael Parenton, will lead the search for a new coach. They will also be advised by former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler and former Saints general manager Randy Mueller.
The Saints have already conducted virtual interviews with New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
They plan to interview more candidates and request interviews with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Darren Rizzi, the Saints’ interim head coach, will also be interviewed. The team may also consider former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, who was the Saints’ offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2004.
When asked how he would pitch the organization to a potential candidate, Loomis emphasized that it wasn’t about “selling” the job.
“It’s about finding the right fit,” Loomis said. “We’re not trying to sell anything. We’ll answer questions openly. Each candidate will have their own concerns, and we’ll be transparent. The key is to align our vision with theirs. That’s how we’ll succeed, not by selling them.”
