Dennis Allen (American football)

Dennis Allen
Personal information
Born: (1972-09-22) September 22, 1972 (age 52)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Career information
High school:L. D. Bell (Hurst, Texas)
College:Texas A&M (1992–1995)
Undrafted:1996
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Head coaching record
Regular season:26–53 (.329)
Record at Pro Football Reference

Dennis James Allen (born September 22, 1972) is an American professional football coach and former player.[1] He most recently served as head coach of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) from 2022 to 2024. He also served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders, and as a coach for the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, University of Tulsa, and his alma mater, Texas A&M University.

Early life and playing career

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Born in Atlanta when his father, Grady Allen was playing for the Atlanta Falcons, Allen grew up in Hurst, Texas near Fort Worth and graduated from L. D. Bell High School.[2][3][4] Allen attended Texas A&M University and played as a safety on R. C. Slocum's "Wrecking Crew" defense. Allen made an interception in the fourth quarter that secured an 18–9 win for Texas A&M over rival Texas. In the 1994 and 1995 seasons, Allen started the final 21 games of his collegiate career and was part of a defensive unit that ranked in the top five in the nation.[4] Allen earned a B.B.A. in management from Texas A&M’s Mays Business School in 1995.[5] In 1996, Allen signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent but was cut during training camp.[4]

Coaching career

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Early coaching career

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Allen began his coaching career at his alma mater Texas A&M, as a graduate assistant coach under his former coach R. C. Slocum. Holding that position from 1996 to 1999, Allen worked mostly with the secondary while pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology from the Texas A&M College of Education. He completed his degree in 1998.[5] From 2000 to 2001, Allen coached the secondary at Tulsa.[5]

Atlanta Falcons

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With the Atlanta Falcons, Allen was a defensive quality control coach from 2002 to 2003 then defensive assistant from 2004 to 2005.[6]

New Orleans Saints (first stint)

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Allen then moved to the New Orleans Saints, as defensive line coach from 2006 to 2007 before being secondary coach from 2008 to 2010. The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in 2009, in which the Saints ranked 3rd in interceptions despite giving up 321 yards per game.[7]

Denver Broncos

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After his success with the Saints' secondary, he was hired to be the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator. The Broncos defense was in the bottom half of yards allowed, ranked 23rd, but were 5th in the league in sacks in 2011.[8][9][10]

Oakland Raiders

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On January 24, 2012, Oakland Raiders' general manager Reggie McKenzie hired Allen as the team's 18th head coach.[11] He was the first Raiders defense-oriented head coach since John Madden's retirement after the 1978 season, because the team's longtime former owner Al Davis (until his death during the 2011 season) preferred offensive-minded head coaches.[citation needed]

In his first season as head coach, the Raiders struggled as they finished the 2012 season with a record of 4–12.[12] That offseason, the Raiders were facing salary cap problems and had traded away most of their draft picks prior to Allen's arrival, which did not allow him to establish his system with the right players. In the middle of the 2013 season, Allen decided to bench quarterback Terrelle Pryor (who was injured) for undrafted rookie Matt McGloin, in hopes of salvaging the rest of the season. Later, Pryor continued to be benched although he was healthy enough to return.[13] The Raiders finished with a 4–12 record in the 2013 season.[14]

On September 29, 2014, following a 38–14 loss to the Miami Dolphins and beginning the 2014 NFL season with 4 straight losses, Allen was fired.[15]

New Orleans Saints (second stint)

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The Saints rehired Allen as senior defensive assistant on January 20, 2015. After Rob Ryan was fired later in the season, on November 16, Allen was promoted to defensive coordinator.[16] On November 29, Allen's first game as defensive coordinator, the Saints were defeated by the Houston Texans 24–6. His defense gave up 362 yards while recording one sack and one interception in the loss.

In 2021, Allen briefly stepped in for Sean Payton as head coach of the Saints after Payton tested positive for COVID-19. Allen served as head coach during the Saints' Week 15 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where the Saints defeated the Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, 9–0.[17]

Following Sean Payton's retirement on January 25, Allen was promoted to head coach of the New Orleans Saints on February 8, 2022.[18][19] On December 10, the NFL fined Allen $100,000 for defensive end Cameron Jordan faking an injury in the Week 13 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[20] The fine was later rescinded after a successful appeal by Jordan.[21] In the 2022 season, he led the team to a 7–10 record.[22] The team improved to a 9–8 mark in the 2023 season but failed to make the postseason.[23]

On November 4, 2024, following a 23–22 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 of the 2024 season (the 7th straight loss for the Saints after a 2–0 start), Allen was fired.[24]

Personal life

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His father Grady Allen was also a standout linebacker for the Aggies and later in the NFL for the Falcons.[25] Dennis and his wife, Alisson, have a son, Garrison, and a daughter, Layla.[26]

Head coaching record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
OAK 2012 4 12 0 .250 3rd in AFC West — — — —
OAK 2013 4 12 0 .250 4th in AFC West — — — —
OAK 2014 0 4 0 .000 Fired — — — —
OAK total 8 28 0 .222 — — —
NO 2022 7 10 0 .412 3rd in NFC South — — — —
NO 2023 9 8 0 .529 2nd in NFC South — — — —
NO 2024 2 7 0 .222 Fired — — — —
NO total 18 25 0 .419 — — —
Total[27] 26 53 0 .329 — — —

References

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  1. ^ "Dennis Allen joins Saints' staff". NBC Sports. January 20, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Dennis Allen". NFL.com.
  3. ^ Tafur, Vic (March 27, 2012). "Dennis Allen Q and A". Silver and Black. SFGate.com. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Williams, Charean (November 27, 2013). "Growing up in Hurst, Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen knew his calling". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Dennis Allen". Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  6. ^ "Dennis Allen". Atlanta Falcons. Archived from the original on December 26, 2005.
  7. ^ "NFL Stats: by Team Category". NFL.com.
  8. ^ "NFL Stats: by Team Category". NFL.com.
  9. ^ "Dennis Allen" (PDF). 2014 Oakland Raiders Media Guide. Oakland Raiders. 2014. pp. 12–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  10. ^ Fox Sports. "NFL". FOX Sports.
  11. ^ "Raiders confirm hiring Allen as new head coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 27, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  12. ^ "2012 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Smith, Michael David (December 14, 2013). "Despite benching, Terrelle Pryor doesn't feel like a failure". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  14. ^ "2013 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (September 30, 2014). "Raiders fire Dennis Allen after two-plus seasons". NFL.com. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  16. ^ "Saints part ways with Rob Ryan; Dennis Allen takes over struggling D". ESPN.com. November 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  17. ^ DeShazier, John (December 17, 2021). "Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen steps into head coaching role for Sean Payton as New Orleans Saints face Tampa Bay". NewOrleansSaints.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  18. ^ Rose, Bob (January 25, 2022). "Report: Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Retiring". Sports Illustrated New Orleans Saints News, Analysis and More. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  19. ^ "Dennis Allen named head coach of the New Orleans Saints". NewOrleansSaints.com. February 8, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  20. ^ "Saints, HC Dennis Allen, DE Cameron Jordan fined for violating NFL rule on faking an injury". NFL.comdate=December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  21. ^ "Saints, DE Cameron Jordan win appeal over fake injury fines". ESPN.com. January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  22. ^ "2022 New Orleans Saints Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "2023 New Orleans Saints Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "Saints relieve head coach Dennis Allen of his duties". neworleanssaints.com. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Werder, Ed (December 4, 2012). "Dennis Allen's father, Grady, dies". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  26. ^ "Football Operations". denverbroncos.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  27. ^ "Dennis Allen". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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