Darren Rizzi made some positive improvements for the Saints, but more is required in New Orleans. What path should the Saints take with their next head coach? That’s a fascinating and hard question. There are numerous schools of thought that New Orleans must consider as they plan their offseason, and finding a solution to their challenges is critical for their present and near future success.
The Saints News Network came together once more to discuss what we’d like to see New Orleans bring in as their future leader and why. The Saints’ Desired Direction For Their Next Head Coach
Kyle T. Mosley is a no-nonsense coach. The New Orleans Saints’ offseason plans are dependent on one person: executive vice president and general manager Mickey Loomis. Assuming Gayle Benson continues to rely on Loomis during the head coach search and draft, these are my concerns. Aaron Glenn is the ideal prospect for the franchise. The Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator is recognized as a “no-nonsense coach” who can develop effective game plans against top offensive coordinators while also maximizing his players’ potential. Glenn also has the possibility to become the New Orleans Saints’ first minority head coach in 58 seasons.
Bob Rose: No Lazy Hires. Saints fans want the anti-Dennis Allen, whatever that means. Many people are skeptical about selecting a defensive-minded coach after Allen’s stint. However, did they see how this defense performed this year? I’m not opposed having a defensive coach. Also not opposed to someone the organization knows, such as Aaron Glenn. What I DO NOT want is a sloppy hire, someone who Mickey Loomis or ownership is “comfortable” with merely because they know them. I’m hoping that the Saints do their due homework on this important hire while also allowing their new coach to build the team that they want.
This does not feel like the job for a retread, such as Mike McCarthy or Doug Pederson. I have a list of favorites, but I really hope the Saints look for a younger coordinator with a strong personality, at least a year of experience in charge of their unit, and a willingness to delegate offense and defense to strong coordinators while overseeing their area of expertise. John Hendrix: Culture Reshaping There are a few coaches who I believe can make a difference in this hiring cycle. That’s Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, Anthony Weaver, and Vance Joseph.
I don’t want to dismiss Ben Johnson, but I believe he is seeking for the best/ideal position, and I am curious if he would be able to come in and completely reshape and create a culture. Regardless of who New Orleans chooses, I hope to see the development of a sustainable culture here. This defense requires a dramatic rebuild, and the proper leader will be tasked with returning it to the form that propelled the Saints during Drew Brees’ final years.
There needs to be more accountability. A great leader can demand performance and accountability while simultaneously commanding respect, which is not easy to earn. Take the excellent that Darren Rizzi brought in and build on it. In fairness, he inherited a terrible situation. I wrote the other day that the Saints needed to embrace a direction, which included stopping trying to be good enough to compete in the NFC South (they aren’t) and not completely dismantling it.
Again, there should be few expectations for New Orleans in 2025, and the season should be spent to establish the proper culture and repair what has been broken for years. That’s why I prefer unfamiliarity, but Aaron Glenn isn’t Dennis Allen 2.0.
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