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

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?

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?

SmashMouth · 03-01-2023, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

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?

So are you saying we are now to expect 6 SB appearances since he's following BB's footsteps?

AsylumGuido · 03-01-2023, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

So are you saying we are now to expect 6 SB appearances since he's following BB's footsteps?

Not necessarily. No more than we should expect him to fail miserably. Maybe he also lucks into a 6th round hall of fame QB. It has happened before.

K Major · 03-01-2023, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

So are you saying we are now to expect 6 SB appearances since he's following BB's footsteps?

John Siegler and a few here are the ones who are "short-sighted".

Dennis Allen will go down as one of the worst head coaches in Raiders history & he's been a dud in New Orleans thus far.

And the comparisons by some with Bill B & Ditka are silly.

Bill B won 31 games as a NEW HEAD COACH in 4 seasons.
Mike Ditka won 36 games as a NEW HEAD COACH in 4 seasons.
Dennis Allen has won 15 games in 4 seasons (3.5 in Oakland) & 1 season in NOLA. Not to mention walking into NO with a talented roster in 2021/22.

But some of ya'll keep gloating over Allen, making excuses on a man who has ultimately had very little success as Head Coach with two different organizations

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.

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.

02-28-2023, 04:40 PM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,483	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: 24,483	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.

03-01-2023, 10:06 AM	#4
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,190 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, 10:38 AM	#5
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,483	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, 11:33 AM	#6
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,190 Blog Entries: 29	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Originally Posted by AsylumGuido 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? So are you saying we are now to expect 6 SB appearances since he's following BB's footsteps? K Major likes this.

03-01-2023, 11:44 AM	#7
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,483	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Originally Posted by SmashMouth So are you saying we are now to expect 6 SB appearances since he's following BB's footsteps? Not necessarily. No more than we should expect him to fail miserably. Maybe he also lucks into a 6th round hall of fame QB. It has happened before.

03-01-2023, 11:53 AM	#8
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,079 Blog Entries: 3	Re: 5 worst head coaches in New Orleans Saints franchise history Originally Posted by SmashMouth So are you saying we are now to expect 6 SB appearances since he's following BB's footsteps? John Siegler and a few here are the ones who are "short-sighted". Dennis Allen will go down as one of the worst head coaches in Raiders history & he's been a dud in New Orleans thus far. And the comparisons by some with Bill B & Ditka are silly. Bill B won 31 games as a NEW HEAD COACH in 4 seasons. Mike Ditka won 36 games as a NEW HEAD COACH in 4 seasons. Dennis Allen has won 15 games in 4 seasons (3.5 in Oakland) & 1 season in NOLA. Not to mention walking into NO with a talented roster in 2021/22. But some of ya'll keep gloating over Allen, making excuses on a man who has ultimately had very little success as Head Coach with two different organizations subguy, SmashMouth, Rugby Saint II and 1 others like this.

03-01-2023, 10:39 AM	#9
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.

02-28-2023, 07:51 PM	#10
stickman 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Gonzales, LA Posts: 1,606	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.