By Ross Jackson
There is still a lot to be learned over the rest of the 2024 NFL season, but one question that will remain unanswered until the offseason comes down to the New Orleans Saints’ head coach position. The team fired Dennis Allen on Monday morning and appointed special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi as interim in his place.
But New Orleans should, and is likely to, look outside of the organization for their next long-term candidates. Thankfully for the Saints, the upcoming crop of potential head coaches is heavily populated. The trick will be convincing the candidates that what the organization has to offer is enough and sets them up for long-term success rather than simply managing a short-term rebuild.
Here are five candidates that the Saints should consider this offseason:
Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions OC
Selling the Lions play caller on what little New Orleans has to offer will be the biggest challenge here. Johnson is sure to be the belle of the ball throughout the league’s coaching landscape this offseason, and several teams will have better setups than what the Saints have to offer: a $60 million cap overage, no proven long-term quarterback option and an aging roster.
But if New Orleans makes the right decisions between now and their interview process, they could sell him on the ability to rebuild under remarkably patient organizational leadership.
Johnson would likely be a head coach who calls his own plays on offense. That could mean a one-and-done year for current Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. But Johnson is bringing one of the NFL most reliably consistent and productive offenses wherever he goes; assuming he finally accepts a head coaching opportunity. The Saints should shoot for the stars here.
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings DC
Similar to Johnson, Flores should be in high demand this offseason. He’s a born leader that would bring another very strong and productive defensive scheme to New Orleans with him. With his previous lawsuit against the NFL stalled, Flores is likely to land another head coaching opportunity immediately.
His time with the Miami Dolphins was far from disappointing. His hard-nosed coaching style blends well with his ability to connect with his roster. He walks the line remarkably well between being the “players’ coach” and the authoritarian. Sometimes each approach is needed at different times. Go get both.
This could also allow you to retain your offensive coaching staff, unless Flores has other ideas.
Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC
The Saints could go the wunderkind route with Coen. The Bucs offensive play caller had pulled together a successful attack in Tampa before the team lost top wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to injury. He also had quarterback Baker Mayfield in the early-season MVP conversation revitalizing the former No. 1 overall draft pick’s career in the NFC South.
Coen’s experience in the Sean McVay system is as massive draw as well. New Orleans interviewed several offensive coordinator candidates this offseason. Almost all of them came from the McVay or Shanahan tree.
Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans OC
Just like Coen, Slowik has done some impressive things with his crew. He put quarterback C.J. Stroud on an Offensive Rookie of the Year trajectory in his first year as a play caller coming from the San Francisco 49ers.
He also lifted the Texans offense to a playoff appearance, finding immediate success with head coach DeMeco Ryans. If the Saints decide to invest in a young quarterback, Slowik could be the guy they want to develop him.
Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions DC
While the Saints should be interested in needing faces and new ideas from unfamiliar candidates, they could go the familiarity route.
The concern here is that the comfort with Glenn, who runs a very similar defensive system to Allen’s in Detroit, may result in similar results seen over Allen’s tenure. If Glenn ends up being the hire, he may get stuck managing a rebuild just for someone else to eventually come in and see it through. He deserves a better opportunity than that and the Saints deserve a more long-term approach than that.
Others: Bill Belichick, former New England HC; Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills OC; Mike Vrabel, former Tennessee Titans HC; Steve Spagnuolo, Kansas City Chiefs DC.
Internal candidate: Darren Rizzi, New Orleans Saints Interim HC.
