It’s a frigid world in the NFL. This offseason, a fourth of the head coaches in the league were unemployed. There is an obvious elite group of head coaches who compete for the Lombardi Trophy on a regular basis. How do the other coaches in the NFL compare to each other, after them?
The NFL head coaches were ranked by NBC Sports’ Patrick Daugherty. He went into great depth about each rating.
Dennis Allen, the head coach of the Saints, came in last among coaches who are not brand-new appointments.
Last winter, we lost a lot of poor coaches. Regards from Ron Rivera, Josh McDaniels, Brandon Staley, and Arthur Smith. Thus, the barely mediocre are what remain to complete our list. Dennis Allen is the only one who is truly dedicated to the role. Allen, a defensive coordinator stuck in a head coach’s body, has handled Sean Payton’s remaining offensive options as if they were priceless artifacts that would crumble under your hands. From slamming Alvin Kamara between the tackles without cause to hurriedly bringing Taysom Hill onto the field during crucial downs, this assault hasn’t changed in three years. It’s not quite accurate to say that there hasn’t been any innovation. Allen has made the decision to discover just how monotonous quarterbacking in the Drew Brees mold can get. In 2022, Andy Dalton pushed the boundaries. In 2023, Derek Carr attained new heights.
Allen, who is undoubtedly a defensive specialist, has finally moved on from Payton Ball on offense, but Kubiak Ball has taken his place. It was Klint, not Gary. In a vacuum, the system works well. Under Klint, it has also been mummified, lacking any new creases since the Peyton Manning era in Denver. Perhaps under coach Kyle Shanahan, 2023 49ers passing game coordinator Klint gained some insight. The Saints’ season and Allen’s job status depend on this: this old Kubiak dog learning some new Shanahan tricks. Though I doubt there are many worse proposals, I don’t see many for 2024.
Daugherty obtained by NBC Sports
He raises several valid arguments. In his two NFL seasons, when he has been given the opportunity, Allen has shown that he struggles as a head coach.
In his combined tenure as head coach of the Saints and Raiders, he is 24-46 overall. His defenses in New Orleans have always been strong, but the offense has never been able to settle in.
He is now optimistic that a fresh offensive plan can turn the tide on the organization’s overall success in light of an aging defense.
During Allen’s tenure, decision-making and clock management have been highly dubious, and he hasn’t helped himself when he criticizes players’ choices in press conferences after games.
It must, as Daugherty pointed out, if Allen hopes to maintain his position. He was under fire when the Saints failed to qualify for the postseason in the previous campaign, and he will face harsh consequences if the same thing again in 2024. Allen’s hopes of staying in charge in New Orleans could be doomed by even a sluggish start. Whatever happens, he needs to prove everything right now, under as much pressure as is practical.
Based on Daugherty’s rankings from the previous offseason, Allen was ranked 26th.