With two NFL head coaches already fired, which ones are up next on the hot seat?
Dennis Allen was fired Monday by the New Orleans Saints
By Mark Eckel
When you lose seven consecutive games as a NFL head coach, and the seventh is to a team with one win who you beat by 37 points opening day, you are probably getting fired.
And that’s what happened to Dennis Allen, formerly of the New Orleans Saints, Monday morning. Allen becomes the second NFL head coach to lose his job this season.
“Dennis has been part of our organization for many years. He is highly regarded within the NFL,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. “He has been extremely loyal and professional and most importantly an excellent football coach for us.
“All of this makes today very tough for me and our organization. However, this decision is something that I felt we needed to make at this time. I wish nothing but the best in the future for Dennis and his family. He will always be considered in the highest regard by me and everyone within our organization.”
Allen made this statement after he was let go Monday.
“I want to take this opportunity to first and foremost thank Gayle Benson for the opportunity to be the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. The organization will always be near and dear to my heart and I am disappointed the results weren’t better. I also want to thank Mickey Loomis for the support he and his staff provided throughout the entire time I was with the organization.
I am proud to have worked alongside some great coaches, both as an assistant and during my time as the head coach. To those men, I am sincerely grateful for the time and effort they put into their jobs. I am also grateful for the entire staff that worked hard to provide the support and will miss our daily interactions.
To every player, thank you for your efforts and contributions. As I said on Sunday, I never questioned your dedication and resolve and I am sorry the results weren’t better, because they were certainly deserved.
Lastly, to the Saints fans and residents of New Orleans, I want to thank you for your unwavering passion and support of the team. I realize what a privilege it is to coach a special franchise in a great city and I will fondly remember the opportunity I had to coach the Saints. I wish everyone with the Saints the best of luck and success going forward.”
Robert Saleh, who used to work for the New York Jets, was fired last month.
So who is the next NFL head coach who shouldn’t buy green bananas?
Eckel’s Monday NFL notes: Cardinals rule the NFC West roost
Here’s the top five NFL head coaches who may make it through the season but could very easily be looking for work in 2025.
Mike McCarthy, Dallas
The Cowboys and McCarthy’s playoff failures are well documented. They are going to avoid that this year because they’re not going to make the playoffs to fail. Owner Jerry Jones doesn’t have the trigger finger some think he has. He stayed with Jason Garrett longer than he probably should have and may do the same with McCarthy. But it’s doubtful. With some interesting names that will be available and McCarthy a lame duck anyway, Jones will likely go in a different direction.
Brian Dabol, New York Giants
Dabol was Coach of the Year just two years ago and now it’s unlikely he’ll see a fourth season with the Giants. The team is really bad and the offense, which is Dabol’s speciality, is even worse. Dabol likely won’t go down alone, general manager Joe Schoen’s decisions set up the team to fail. And it’s what they have done.
Zac Taylor, Cincinnati
Once again the Bengals started the season 1-3 and once again are trying to fight their way back. They don’t have the “Joe Burrow is hurt’’ excuse this year. For that matter Burrow is playing lights out and they’re still losing. If the Bengals can’t turn it around and make the playoffs, it might be time for Taylor to take his slow starts somewhere else. This team is too talented to be under .500 at this point of the season.
Matt Eberflus, Chicago
For the umpteenth straight time this was going to be the Bears year and quarterback Caleb Williams Fields Trubisky was going to be the man to lead the Bears to greatness. After a 4-2 start — with three wins against teams who are a combined 6-20 — the Bears now sit at .500. And they still haven’t played Detroit, Green Bay or Minnesota. A strong finish might save Eberflus’ job, but don’t count on it.
Doug Pederson, Jacksonville
It’s never good for a head coach when the owner declares before the season that this is the best roster he’s ever had. And it’s really bad when said roster is 2-7 after nine games. Five of those seven losses are by one score, but a loss is a loss is a loss. Pederson deserves another year, but it might come down to him getting rid of some assistants to save himself. And history says he’s a pretty loyal guy.
