5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history

AsylumGuido · 02-28-2023, 04:40 PM

5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history

John Sigler
February 28, 2023 3:35 pm CT

Ask around and you’ll find some New Orleans Saints fans who are ready to call Dennis Allen the worst head coach in franchise history, which is a bit shortsighted. It’s very shortsighted, actually. Allen has his faults and the team wasn’t as competitive as it should have been last year because of his flaws as a coach and too-conservative game management, but he’s far from the worst coach to wear a headset in New Orleans. Anyone saying otherwise needs some perspective.

We’re only considering coaches who managed at least 15 games for New Orleans, which eliminates interims like Joe Vitt (10 games), Rick Venturi (8), and Wade Phillips (4). Some fans will be quick to suggest also-rans like Bum Phillips and Dick Nolan as the worst coaches in team history, but we believe these men take the cake. Do you agree with our list?

5 Hank Stram, 1976-1977 (7-21-0)

4 John North, 1973-1975 (11-23-0)

3 Tom Fears, 1967-1970 (13-34-2)

2 J.D. Roberts, 1970-1972 (7-25-3)

1 Mike Ditka, 1997-1999 (15-33-0)

Read the rest and all the details here ...

AsylumGuido · 02-28-2023, 04:45 PM

As a nine year old kid I wasn't as aware or caring as to what type of job the head coach was doing. Fears, Roberts, and North really weren't that influential to me one way or the other. However, Coach Stram was semi-legendary and gave me hope. Ditka was truly legendary and brought excitement ... until he started coaching and making decisions. Dennis Allen belongs in the Hall of Fame compared to what Ditka brought to our team.

bobdog86 · 02-28-2023, 05:57 PM

I think Ditka should be #1-5, everyone else gets a pass compared to his sh*t show

stickman · 02-28-2023, 07:51 PM

I have vague memories of a "Don't Yank Hank" movement before Stram was fired. There were those who felt he was building the team and the owner just decided to make a change. I think that's when he brought in Bum Phillips.

vpheughan · 02-28-2023, 09:28 PM

This brings up the question: Was it the Coach or the General Manager?
Hank Stram had Don Klosterman (See Below) as his GM during his "Good" years.

In 1960, Frank Leahy, the former head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, was the general manager of the AFL's Los Angeles Chargers. He asked Klosterman to help him recruit players. Klosterman joined the team and helped land future Hall of Famers Lance Alworth,along with Ernie Ladd, John Hadl and Jack Kemp.
He moved on to the AFL's Dallas Texans, and with them and their successors, the Kansas City Chiefs, he helped sign Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Pete Beathard, Mike Garrett and Otis Taylor, most of them important players in the Chiefs' win over the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game.

He guided the AFL's Houston Oilers to two playoff berths in his four years as their general manager (1966–1969), then moved to the NFL as Baltimore's general manager in 1970. The Colts won Super Bowl V after his first season as GM. Carroll Rosenbloom, the Colts' owner, traded franchises with the Los Angeles Rams owner Robert Irsay in 1972. Rosenbloom kept Klosterman as his GM through the 1982 season and was rewarded with a series of playoff teams.

Klosterman then served as general manager of the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (1984-1985), which gained wide publicity when he signed Young, the star passer from BYU. The deal was in excess of $40 million in 1984. Although the league folded, Young became a star with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers.

5 Hank Stram, 1976-1977 (7-21-0)

4 John North, 1973-1975 (11-23-0)

3 Tom Fears, 1967-1970 (13-34-2)

2 J.D. Roberts, 1970-1972 (7-25-3)

1 Mike Ditka, 1997-1999 (15-33-0)

Ditka also "Won" with a team stocked with players drafted by Jim Finks.

Though Ditka won that title and made the playoffs seven times in his career, time proved his tenure to be somewhat underachieving. He failed to reach another Super Bowl and had less and less success as the well of talent Finks filled began to dry up.

MatthewT · 03-01-2023, 06:47 AM

I always felt Hank Stram was fired prematurely and would have lead the Saints into relevance. Of course it's hard to keep a job after losing 33-14 to the 0-26 Buccaneers, the game that most likely sealed his fate.

SmashMouth · 03-01-2023, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by bobdog86

I think Ditka should be #1-5, everyone else gets a pass compared to his sh*t show

Why was he such a chit show for his second stint as a coach? Surely it's not just the RW trade.

That reminds me, isn't this the second time around for DA as well?

MatthewT · 03-01-2023, 10:36 AM

Ditka didn't have any stability at QB, Heath Shuler was brought in to replace Jim Everett, just a horrible decision, and it never got better from there. I think in all 3 seasons under Ditka they started 4 different QB's each season.

AsylumGuido · 03-01-2023, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

Why was he such a chit show for his second stint as a coach? Surely it's not just the RW trade.

That reminds me, isn't this the second time around for DA as well?

Yup. Just like the Patriots was Bill Belichick's second time around after compiling a losing record with a dysfunctional franchise in his first attempt at head coach. He went 5-11 his first season with the Patriots. If I remember correctly, the fans were wanting him fired after that season and were labeling him as incompetent. Sound familiar?

bobdog86 · 03-01-2023, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

Why was he such a chit show for his second stint as a coach? Surely it's not just the RW trade.

That reminds me, isn't this the second time around for DA as well?

just my .02- Coach Sh*tka loved his legacy and himself more than any skill in developing a winning team/culture. A true Narcissist indeed. Not sure about DA at this point, he hasnt luckily stepped into a Lombardi like Sh*tka.

02-28-2023, 04:40 PM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,395	5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Twitter John Sigler February 28, 2023 3:35 pm CT Ask around and you’ll find some New Orleans Saints fans who are ready to call Dennis Allen the worst head coach in franchise history, which is a bit shortsighted. It’s very shortsighted, actually. Allen has his faults and the team wasn’t as competitive as it should have been last year because of his flaws as a coach and too-conservative game management, but he’s far from the worst coach to wear a headset in New Orleans. Anyone saying otherwise needs some perspective. We’re only considering coaches who managed at least 15 games for New Orleans, which eliminates interims like Joe Vitt (10 games), Rick Venturi (8), and Wade Phillips (4). Some fans will be quick to suggest also-rans like Bum Phillips and Dick Nolan as the worst coaches in team history, but we believe these men take the cake. Do you agree with our list? 5 Hank Stram, 1976-1977 (7-21-0) 4 John North, 1973-1975 (11-23-0) 3 Tom Fears, 1967-1970 (13-34-2) 2 J.D. Roberts, 1970-1972 (7-25-3) 1 Mike Ditka, 1997-1999 (15-33-0) Read the rest and all the details here ...
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

02-28-2023, 04:45 PM	#2
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,395	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history As a nine year old kid I wasn't as aware or caring as to what type of job the head coach was doing. Fears, Roberts, and North really weren't that influential to me one way or the other. However, Coach Stram was semi-legendary and gave me hope. Ditka was truly legendary and brought excitement ... until he started coaching and making decisions. Dennis Allen belongs in the Hall of Fame compared to what Ditka brought to our team.

02-28-2023, 05:57 PM	#3
bobdog86 Site Donor Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,329	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history I think Ditka should be #1-5, everyone else gets a pass compared to his sh*t show jnormand, saintsfan1976 and Rugby Saint II like this.

02-28-2023, 07:51 PM	#4
stickman 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Gonzales, LA Posts: 1,602	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history I have vague memories of a "Don't Yank Hank" movement before Stram was fired. There were those who felt he was building the team and the owner just decided to make a change. I think that's when he brought in Bum Phillips.

02-28-2023, 09:28 PM	#5
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,499	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history This brings up the question: Was it the Coach or the General Manager? Hank Stram had Don Klosterman (See Below) as his GM during his "Good" years. In 1960, Frank Leahy, the former head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, was the general manager of the AFL's Los Angeles Chargers. He asked Klosterman to help him recruit players. Klosterman joined the team and helped land future Hall of Famers Lance Alworth,along with Ernie Ladd, John Hadl and Jack Kemp. He moved on to the AFL's Dallas Texans, and with them and their successors, the Kansas City Chiefs, he helped sign Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Pete Beathard, Mike Garrett and Otis Taylor, most of them important players in the Chiefs' win over the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game. He guided the AFL's Houston Oilers to two playoff berths in his four years as their general manager (1966–1969), then moved to the NFL as Baltimore's general manager in 1970. The Colts won Super Bowl V after his first season as GM. Carroll Rosenbloom, the Colts' owner, traded franchises with the Los Angeles Rams owner Robert Irsay in 1972. Rosenbloom kept Klosterman as his GM through the 1982 season and was rewarded with a series of playoff teams. Klosterman then served as general manager of the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League (1984-1985), which gained wide publicity when he signed Young, the star passer from BYU. The deal was in excess of $40 million in 1984. Although the league folded, Young became a star with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. 5 Hank Stram, 1976-1977 (7-21-0) 4 John North, 1973-1975 (11-23-0) 3 Tom Fears, 1967-1970 (13-34-2) 2 J.D. Roberts, 1970-1972 (7-25-3) 1 Mike Ditka, 1997-1999 (15-33-0) Ditka also "Won" with a team stocked with players drafted by Jim Finks. Though Ditka won that title and made the playoffs seven times in his career, time proved his tenure to be somewhat underachieving. He failed to reach another Super Bowl and had less and less success as the well of talent Finks filled began to dry up. iceshack149 and K Major like this.
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,499	"Your worst enemy, he reflected, was your own nervous system. At any moment the tension inside you was liable to translate itself into some visible symptom." Winston Smith

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03-01-2023, 06:47 AM	#6
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,706	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history I always felt Hank Stram was fired prematurely and would have lead the Saints into relevance. Of course it's hard to keep a job after losing 33-14 to the 0-26 Buccaneers, the game that most likely sealed his fate. Rugby Saint II likes this.

03-01-2023, 10:06 AM	#7
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,061 Blog Entries: 29	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Originally Posted by bobdog86 I think Ditka should be #1-5, everyone else gets a pass compared to his sh*t show Why was he such a chit show for his second stint as a coach? Surely it's not just the RW trade. That reminds me, isn't this the second time around for DA as well? Rugby Saint II likes this.

03-01-2023, 10:36 AM	#8
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,706	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Ditka didn't have any stability at QB, Heath Shuler was brought in to replace Jim Everett, just a horrible decision, and it never got better from there. I think in all 3 seasons under Ditka they started 4 different QB's each season. iceshack149, AsylumGuido and SmashMouth like this.

03-01-2023, 10:38 AM	#9
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,395	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Originally Posted by SmashMouth Why was he such a chit show for his second stint as a coach? Surely it's not just the RW trade. That reminds me, isn't this the second time around for DA as well? Yup. Just like the Patriots was Bill Belichick's second time around after compiling a losing record with a dysfunctional franchise in his first attempt at head coach. He went 5-11 his first season with the Patriots. If I remember correctly, the fans were wanting him fired after that season and were labeling him as incompetent. Sound familiar? SmashMouth likes this.

03-01-2023, 10:39 AM	#10
bobdog86 Site Donor Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,329	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Originally Posted by SmashMouth Why was he such a chit show for his second stint as a coach? Surely it's not just the RW trade. That reminds me, isn't this the second time around for DA as well? just my .02- Coach Shtka loved his legacy and himself more than any skill in developing a winning team/culture. A true Narcissist indeed. Not sure about DA at this point, he hasnt luckily stepped into a Lombardi like Shtka. iceshack149 and SmashMouth like this.