METAIRIE, La. – It’s not hard to see why the New Orleans Saints chose Dennis Allen to replace Sean Payton as its head coach.
Allen, 49, brings a continuity the franchise valued after spending 12 of the past 16 years in New Orleans. General manager Mickey Loomis insisted the Saints weren’t looking for the same type of overhaul that might be the case with the eight teams who fired their previous coaches. And this gives them a chance to keep much of their talented coaching staff intact.
Allen also brings excellence as a defensive coordinator who helped transform his unit into the strength of the team in recent seasons.