The New Orleans Saints became the second team to get a head start on the NFL coaching carousel by firing Dennis Allen on Monday.He follows Robert Saleh, who was let go by the New York Jets last month. Allen’s departure appeared imminent as the Saints dropped their seventh consecutive game on Sunday following two wins to begin the season.Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will serve as the team’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and here are five early candidates to become the Saints’ next head coach in the offseason.5. Mike Vrabel, Browns ConsultantVrabel, 49, is spending this season as a consultant for Cleveland after parting ways with Tennessee last offseason. The NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2021, Vrabel spent six years at the helm of the Titans. He is highly respected in league circles and is expected to be on the short list for several vacancies this offseason.4. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions Defensive CoordinatorAs impressive as the Lions’ offense is, Glenn has been doing an outstanding job leading the defense, which has continued to befuddle opponents following the devastating injury to pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit is allowing an average of 357.1 yards per game, but a solid portion of that is coming in garbage time of blowout victories. The Lions are allowing only 18.5 points per game, good for sixth in the NFL entering Monday night.Glenn, 52, has ties to the Saints’ franchise. After closing his playing career with a season in New Orleans in 2008, he returned to serve as the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016-20 before taking the reins of the Lions’ defense. The big hurdle in a potential third stint in New Orleans could be the team’s interest in an offensive-minded head coach following the failed Allen tenure.3. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills Offensive CoordinatorBrady has been lauded for his work with Josh Allen & Co. since taking over midseason in 2023. Despite deal away Stefon Diggs last offseason and Allen working with a mediocre group of wide receivers, Buffalo is fifth in the NFL averaging 28.9 points per game.Brady also has strong ties to New Orleans, working as an offensive assistant for the Saints from 2017-18 before moving on to become the passing game coordinator for LSU the following season. After two years as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator, Brady moved on to Buffalo in 2022. He would potentially become the youngest head coach in the NFL, having just turned 35 in September.
