5 potential head coach replacements if Sean Payton leaves

EDIT – This article was written before Sean Payton retired. 

New Orleans Saints fans are nervous with the recent news that Sean Payton returning to coach the team in 2022 isn’t a guarantee. This team was able to go 9-8 despite starting four different quarterbacks and having a terrible offense because of Payton and what he provides as a head coach.

The rumblings have been going on for years quite honestly but this one seems to have more steam to it. Ian Rapoport reported that Payton isn’t committed to returning in 2022 and then Mike Garafolo hopped on the call with news that TV networks are interested in adding the long-time head coach to their crew.

Saints fans are used to hearing rumors about Payton leaving. He’s always getting linked to the Dallas Cowboys due to his ties to the city and organization yet when the dust settles, Payton is right back in the Big Easy doing what he does best.

This time around does feel a little eerier, however. Drew Brees is enjoying retirement and despite the winning record this past season, it had to have been an incredibly stressful season for Payton. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if he did end up leaving to either go into TV or even coach another team.

If Payton does leave, let’s check out five potential replacements for the long-time Saints head coach.

5. Eric Bieniemy

The past few years it felt like a foregone conclusion that Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy would get a head coaching job. As of now, however, Bieniemy is still the offensive coordinator for the reigning AFC champion Chiefs.

Andy Reid has always done a great job getting his coordinators jobs, as evidenced by Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy, both of whom landed head coaching gigs but are no longer in those positions. Be that as it may, Bieniemy hasn’t had the same luck.

After landing several interviews over the past two years, he ended up back in Kansas City. This offseason, Bieniemy had just one interview to this point and it was with the Broncos. It feels as though the Bieniemy hype has died down tremendously and it wouldn’t be surprising if he didn’t end up with a head coaching gig.

If Payton leaves later than expected, however, Bieniemy might be one of the better options left. The Chiefs’ offense has been one of the best since he’s been the offensive coordinator and he’d definitely be worth a look if New Orleans found themselves in a position where they needed a head coach.

4. Dan Quinn

Not long ago, Dan Quinn coached in the NFC South, as he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2020. During Quinn’s time in Atlanta, he helped get the Falcons to a Super Bowl in the 2016 season only for them to lose after getting off to a 28-3 head start (never gets old bringing that up).

Quinn was fired early in the 2020 season after the Falcons spiraled downward quickly and he joined the Cowboys as their defensive coordinator this past offseason. Dallas’ defense was incredible with Quinn at the helm and it’s not surprising to see him as a popular coaching candidate.

The Saints are a team who could benefit from having a defensive-minded head coach, as that’s definitely been their strength the past few years. Quinn previously coached in the division so his knowledge on the other teams would be useful for NOLA.

With that said, however, Quinn is probably one of the most popular names on the head coaching market so landing with New Orleans seems unlikely. You can’t rule him out though because of what the Saints already have in place on the defensive side of the ball. That could really tempt Quinn to return to the NFC South.

3. Brian Flores

The Miami Dolphins shocked a lot of people by firing Brian Flores after three seasons. While on paper, not making the playoffs in three seasons seemed “fire-worthy”, Flores didn’t have much to work with when he got to Miami and he turned that franchise around quickly into a winner.

The reason Flores is a popular name this offseason is that his track record proves he can coach in the NFL. He’s also been linked to former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, as reports circulated that with Flores out in Miami, Watson might not be as interested in going there.

If New Orleans were to land Flores, perhaps Watson would request a trade to the Big Easy to follow his dream head coach. The financial aspect of this would need to be worked out, of course, but this is a big reason why Flores has to be a candidate should Payton leave.

Flores is one of the more popular names this coaching cycle so it’d be tough for the Saints to land him. If they were to do so, however, he’d continue to make them a strong team, especially if Watson joined him.

2. Aaron Glenn

This is the one name on here that casual fans might not know, but Aaron Glenn is currently the defensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. He previously spent time in the Saints organization as both a player and a coordinator, playing for them in 2008 and serving as their defensive backs coordinator from 2016-2020.

When Dan Campbell left the Big Easy for the Detroit head coaching job last offseason, he plucked Glenn off Payton’s staff and took him to the Motor City with him. Sure, the Lions only won three games this past season but their defense showed toughness.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Glenn is already familiar with the organization and knows the players. He coached these guys already and would be able to help this team because of that knowledge.

Glenn interviewed for the Broncos’ head coaching job but that’s the only one as of now. He might not be a well-known name in the coaches looking for jobs but sometimes, that’s a good thing. He’d definitely make sense as New Orleans’ head coach should Payton decide to depart.

1. Dennis Allen

If Sean Payton leaves, Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen should get the job assuming he doesn’t go elsewhere. To this point, Allen has had just one interview and it came over the weekend with the Bears.

Allen has previous head coaching experience and it didn’t go well for him, as he won just eight games during three seasons with the Oakland Raiders from 2012-2014. Allen was fired after going 0-4 in the 2014 season and then returned to New Orleans.

Allen stepped in for Payton this season when the Saints head coach had to miss the Sunday night game in Tampa due to testing positive for COVID-19 and it resulted in a 9-0 shutout victory. Allen took the reigns against one of the toughest teams in the NFL and his defense shut out the opponent.

That right there was an audition for a head coaching vacancy but so far only the Bears have shown interest. Perhaps Allen’s previous head coaching tenure is scaring teams away but that was nearly a decade ago. If Payton leaves, he feels like a lock to take over.

Hopefully, this speculation is all for naught and Sean Payton remains the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. If he does call it a career, however, these coaches are options for NOLA.