Being a fan of this team is a lot. Honestly, if you’ve followed the black and gold for more than a minute, you know that the history of New Orleans Saints head coaches is basically a wild ride between "bless you boys" and "Aints" territory. It’s never just about the football. It’s about the vibe of the city, the weight of the salary cap, and that constant, nagging shadow of the Sean Payton era.
We’re sitting here in early 2026, and the conversation hasn't really changed. Fans are still arguing at Parkway Bakery about who should be calling the plays. You’ve got people who want the next young genius and people who just want someone to stop the bleeding.
The reality? Finding a coach who can actually survive New Orleans is rare.
The Kellen Moore Experiment: A Rough Start with a Silver Lining
Let’s talk about right now. Kellen Moore stepped into the building in February 2025 with a fresh Super Bowl ring from his time as the Eagles' OC. He was supposed to be the "it" guy. The offensive wunderkind who would finally make the post-Brees era look like something other than a car crash.
But his first year? It was a rollercoaster.
The Saints finished 2025 with a 6-11 record.
If you look at the box scores, it looks bad. They started the year 2-10. Fans were already calling for his head by November. But then something weird happened. The team won four straight games to end the season. Suddenly, players were talking about "culture" and "consistency" in the locker room. General Manager Mickey Loomis just finished his year-end presser alongside Moore on January 7, 2026, and the message was clear: they’re sticking with him.
Whether Moore is the long-term answer or just another name on the list remains to be seen. He’s the 19th head coach in franchise history, and he’s currently walking a very thin line.
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Why We Can't Stop Comparing Everyone to Sean Payton
Every single person who takes this job is haunted by Sean Payton. It’s unavoidable.
Payton didn't just win games; he changed the DNA of the city. He arrived in 2006, right after Katrina, and basically told a broken region that they were going to be winners. 152 wins. Nine playoff trips. That Super Bowl XLIV trophy that still makes grown men cry.
Most people forget that before Payton, the Saints were a joke. He brought a swagger that the franchise had never seen. He and Drew Brees were the ultimate "cheat code."
- Total Wins: 152 (The most in team history by a mile)
- Playoff Record: 9-8
- The Vibe: Relentless, aggressive, and maybe a little petty (we loved it).
The problem is that Payton’s success created a standard that is almost impossible to meet. Dennis Allen tried to follow it. He was the "safe" pick in 2022 because he knew the system. But "safe" doesn’t win championships in this league. Allen went 18-25 before getting the axe in late 2024 after a seven-game losing streak that felt like an eternity.
The Forgotten Legends and the "Aints" Era
Before the 2000s, being a Saints coach was a thankless job. You had guys like Tom Fears, the very first coach in 1967. He was a Hall of Famer as a player, but New Orleans was a tough place to build a winner from scratch.
Then there’s Jim Mora.
You can't talk about New Orleans Saints head coaches without mentioning the man who gave us the "Dome Patrol."
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Mora was the first guy to actually make the Saints relevant. From 1986 to 1996, he dragged the team to four playoff appearances. He went 93-74. But, as every Saints fan of a certain age will remind you, he never won a playoff game. 0-4. It was the ultimate "close but no cigar" era.
And who could forget the Mike Ditka years?
Honestly, we try to. Trading an entire draft for Ricky Williams was a move so bold it actually circled back around to being disastrous. Ditka finished 15-33. It was three years of high expectations and zero results.
The Chaos of the Interim: Darren Rizzi
When Dennis Allen was fired in November 2024, Darren Rizzi took over.
Rizzi was a breath of fresh air. He didn't come in with a 500-page playbook; he came in with a construction worker's uniform and a level tool. Literally. He told the guys they needed to "level out" and stop the distractions.
He went 3-5 during that interim stint, which doesn't sound great, but it was enough to make him a finalist for the full-time job before the team ultimately landed on Kellen Moore. Rizzi proved that sometimes, the locker room doesn't need a scheme; it needs a personality.
What It Actually Takes to Win in New Orleans
The Saints are in a unique spot. They have a front office that hates the idea of a "rebuild." Mickey Loomis is famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for manipulating the salary cap to stay competitive. This means a head coach doesn't get the luxury of a "Year Zero." They are expected to win with whatever veteran roster is currently being held together by cap-magic and prayers.
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To succeed here, a coach needs:
- Thick Skin: The local media and the fans are intense.
- Creative Play-calling: This is a city that grew up on 40-point games. A boring offense is a death sentence.
- Defensive Resilience: The "Dome Patrol" mentality still lingers. If the defense gives up 30 points, the fans will let you know about it.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you’re tracking the future of the Saints' leadership, keep an eye on these specific markers over the next twelve months:
- The 2026 Draft Strategy: Watch if Kellen Moore finally gets "his" quarterback or if the team continues to patch things together with veterans.
- Defensive Identity: Since Dennis Allen’s departure, the defense has been inconsistent. Moore needs to find a coordinator who can bring back that top-10 edge.
- The End-of-Season Momentum: That four-game win streak at the end of 2025 has to carry over into the 2026 preseason. If they start 0-3, the "hot seat" talk starts immediately.
The history of New Orleans Saints head coaches is a list of men who tried to capture lightning in a bottle. Some, like Payton and Mora, did it. Others, like Ditka and Allen, found out just how hard it is to keep the Dome rocking when the wins stop coming.
For Moore, the clock is ticking. The late-season surge saved his job for now, but in New Orleans, you're only ever one bad losing streak away from becoming a memory.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to understand the team's trajectory, look closely at the upcoming 2026 free agency period. How Moore and Loomis navigate the cap will tell you exactly how much "win now" pressure is really on this coaching staff. Check the official team transactions and salary cap trackers like OverTheCap to see if they are finally resetting or doubling down on the current core.