The New Orleans Saints have endured their share of struggles over the past five seasons, particularly under the Dennis Allen era from 2022-2024. The Saints have missed the postseason over past five seasons, searching for stability. Although though they’ve battled adversity, it’s hard to imagine a former Saints player publicly taking a shot at the organization the way Elijah Wilkinson did towards the Atlanta Falcons.
After signing a new deal and joining the Arizona Cardinals, the former Falcons offensive tackle responded to a fan on social media by saying, “Good luck with that clown show over there.” The comment quickly made waves, raising eyebrows around the league and airing frustrations so openly.
Moments like this highlight the difference in organizational culture across the league. Even in disappointing seasons, teams often emphasize keeping frustrations in house instead of turning them public.
New Orleans Saints fortunate to maintain order while Atlanta Falcons falter
The Falcons appear to be operating in instability, with constant changes in direction and public frustration brewing. From roster turnover to doubts about leadership and a longterm vision, the perception around the league is that organization hasn’t found firm footing. When former players feel comfortable taking public jabs on their way out, it only adds to growing belief that there might be different issues behind closed doors.
In the NFL, dysfunction becomes evident through inconsistent direction, public frustration, and uncertainty about the future. For a franchise looking to gain traction, that type of instability can hinder development and weaken confidence throughout the organization.
Meanwhile, the Saints never quite reached that level of open turmoil, even in their most challenging seasons. The Saints struggled in the standings, but the organization maintained internal accountability and stood together without letting internal frustrations spill publicly.
At the height of their adversity, there was frustration, but never division. New Orleans is fortunate to be moving in the right direction, building stability and culture. They have avoided the public chaos that has consumed the Falcons.