The New Orleans Saints are the only team not to have a confirmed head coach going into the 2025 season, meaning they have a variety of candidates to choose from.
With the recent news that the Cowboys promoted their offensive coordinator to head coach, that currently leaves the New Orleans Saints the only NFL team with an HC vacancy. This gives the organization a certain kind of flexibility when it comes to their next big hire. That vacancy may be because the position is seen as unenviable. They had a rough season in 2024, finishing last in the NFC South and firing Dennis Allen back in November.
Some potential candidates might be willing to step up to the challenge. Darren Rizzi comes to mind. The Saints special team coordinator became the interim head coach after Allen was let go. While the Saints didn’t improve much during this time, he did end the season with a 3-5 record as HC. Having been with New Orleans since 2019, Rizzi has earned endorsements from some of his players – such as Alvin Kamara. So as far as the locker room goes, Rizzi certainly has supporters.
Historically, interim head coaches aren’t offered the full-time position very often. It’s even more rare for them to succeed after the transition. Antonio Pierce’s follow-up year as a real HC was disappointing compared to the 2023 season, recording one less win overall. Not only that, but other recent hires might make Rizzi seem underwhelming to fans. With the Raiders bringing Pete Carrol to replace Pierce, it might be in the Saints’ best interest to find someone with more experience at the helm.
Mike McCarthy has seen better days, having just departed from Dallas following a lackluster season. Despite that, it’s hard to imagine the Saints passing up on him. McCarthy previously served as an offensive coordinator in New Orleans for a couple of years, which might embolden him to return. McCarthy’s tenure with the Packers saw multiple consecutive trips to the playoffs and a Super Bowl victory in 2011. That resume shouldn’t be dismissed so easily.
It’s worth noting that McCarthy did interview with the Bears before they hired Ben Johnson, so it doesn’t seem likely he’ll go on another hiatus. The Saints could also be considering candidates who are unavailable to interview due to still being in this year’s playoffs. With other struggling teams in the league putting their best foot forward in finding a suitable HC, time will tell if the Saints make the right choice.
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