NFL reporter warns Saints fans about dropping interim label from Darren Rizzi's title

The New Orleans Saints were left for dead after dropping their seventh straight game and sitting at 2-7 on the year. That's why firing Dennis Allen was the correct move. The Saints needed to accept that Allen wasn't the right head coach for the Saints and they needed to move on and salvage what they could out of a disappointing 2024 season.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was named interim head coach and so far, it's been an excellent decision for the Saints front office. Since Rizzi took over as the interim head coach, the Saints have gone 2-0, narrowly defeating the Atlanta Falcons, who are currently the NFC South frontrunners, and then blowing out the Cleveland Browns.

While it's only been two games, it wouldn't be farfetched for people to think that Rizzi has done enough to deserve a serious consideration for the Saints head coaching job in 2025. The players clearly adore him and play hard for him, which was certainly not the case with Allen.

When asked on X about this very scenario, Benjamin Allbright urged the Saints to steer clear from hiring the interim as their next head coach. Allbright, who is a Broncos insider, was asked "Is Darren Rizzi gaining traction to become the permanent Saints' HC?" to which the reporter responded with, "Never hire the interim permanently. Can be a feel-good story, but it's unlikely to change a culture issue they were likely entrenched in."

NFL reporter urges Saints not to fall in interim head coach trap

It's tough because on the one hand, Allbright seems to have a point, but on the other hand, the Saints have looked like a completely different team since Rizzi took over. Again, we have a very small sample size with Rizzi running the show but the Saints team that knocked off the Falcons and blew out the Browns is not the same team that looked to have quit on their coach in Weeks 3 through 9.

That being said, there is something to be said about interim head coaches not living up to the bill when given the promotion. Most recently, Antonio Pierce of the Raiders is proof of this. Pierce was named interim head coach last year after the Raiders fired Josh McDaniels and he went 5-4 in his new role. That led to the Raiders dropping the interim label and it hasn't gone well, with Vegas sitting 2-9 through 11 games.

The Saints will be one of at least two teams searching for a new head coach in 2024 (though there are likely to be far more than just them and the Jets) and while it's safe to say Rizzi will be given a fair shot, the team still needs to keep their options open and consider other candidates. Now if Rizzi takes the Saints on a perfect run down the stretch, maybe it's a different story but that feels unlikely.

The Saints have to nail this hire so while the players love Rizzi, it was the same song and dance with the Raiders players loving Pierce as well and look how that's gone. They'll need to do their research and hire the best possible option this offseason to help turn this team back into a Super Bowl contender.