Dennis Allen Says 'All Indications' Are He Will Return as Saints HC After 7-10 Season

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen told reporters on Monday that he believes he'll be back as the team's head coach next season.

"I look forward to the challenge of improving this team," he added.

Allen, 50, went 7-10 in his first season as the head coach following the long and successful Sean Payton era. He spent seven seasons as Payton's defensive coordinator (2015-21) and previously had worked for the team as an assistant (2006-10).

Prior stops included the Atlanta Falcons (2002-05), the Denver Broncos as the defensive coordinator (2011) and the Oakland Raiders (2012-14) as the head coach. For his career, Allen is 15-38 as an NFL head coach.

It isn't the strongest résumé, though given New Orleans' quarterback situation this year—the team cycled through veterans Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton—and the general battle through injuries, a 7-10 mark seemed about right for these Saints.

Not that Allen was thrilled with those results.

"7-10 is not where we want to be," he told reporters. "But we're not as far off as some may think."

One downside for Allen going forward is that the Saints don't hold their first-round pick this offseason, with the No. 10 selection instead going to the Philadelphia Eagles. That will remove one avenue for adding another talented prospect, namely at the quarterback position, to the roster.

That remains an uncertainty. But it sounds as though Allen's will be back.

"We've talked throughout the season," he told reporters on Monday regarding his relationship with team owner Gayle Benson. "I feel like I've got Mrs. B's support. She's been nothing but outstanding for us. And I'm sure that at some point we'll sit down and visit."