NFL Rumors: Saints HC Dennis Allen 'on the Hot Seat', Rivals Say Entering 2024 Season

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen "is opening the season on the hot seat," according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe.

Howe reported Monday the sense around the NFL is that Allen needs to deliver in 2024 following two lackluster years at the helm.

To say the 51-year-old was set up to fail is probably a stretch, but he wasn't exactly dealt a strong hand when he took over ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Allen succeeded Sean Payton, the greatest coach in franchise history, and inherited an offense still lacking a viable solution at quarterback in the wake of Drew Brees' retirement. The bill has also come due from general manager Mickey Loomis' creative maneuvering of the salary cap.

The problem for the head coach is that he hasn't provided much reason for optimism moving forward.

New Orleans couldn't capitalize on the fact the NFC South was the worst division in the NFL in 2022 and 2023, missing the playoffs both years. And last season ended with Allen apologizing to the Atlanta Falcons for a late touchdown in a 48-17 blowout win over the Falcons, a moment that didn't look good any way you read it.

Allen can't really point to past successes elsewhere, either. The Oakland Raiders fired him in 2014 following an 0-4 start, which came after successive 4-12 years. That's his only other stop as a head coach.

By keeping him aboard, the Saints displayed a level of confidence in Allen and his staff. Their resolve could be put to the test if the organization's playoff hopes are already fading after a few weeks.