The New Orleans Saints have fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and replaced him with Dennis Allen, the team announced on Monday night.
Saints fire Rob Ryan, name Dennis Allen defensive coordinator
Ryan is out and Allen is in after a poor start to the season and a league-worst defense for the Saints.
A report earlier in the day from Alex Marvez of FOX Sports said that Ryan was set to be fired. At the time, Payton said that he still had to meet with general manager Mickey Loomis before any personnel changes will be made. The announcement from the team that Ryan was done came hours later.
The Saints are coming off a 47-14 loss to Washington on Sunday that dropped the team to No. 32 in points and yards allowed through the first 10 weeks.
Ryan, 52, took over the defense in New Orleans in 2013 and helped the team bounce back from being the worst defensive team in the NFL in 2012 to become the No. 4 defense one year later. But the Saints defense regressed to No. 31 in the NFL in 2014 and has been particularly bad in the month of November this season.
After allowing an average of 26.4 points per game in the first seven weeks, the Saints have given up 130 points in just three games in November. Against Washington on Sunday, the Saints allowed Kirk Cousins to throw for 324 yards and four touchdowns.
Prior to joining the Saints, Ryan was the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns for two seasons each, and the Oakland Raiders for five seasons. He is the twin brother of Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan and son of former Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals head coach Buddy Ryan.
Allen was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2012 through 2014 when he was fired. He joined the Saints in the offseason.
The Saints dropped to 4-6 with the loss in Week 10 and will travel to face the Houston Texans next in Week 12 after a bye week.
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