Tag: khai harley

Report: Mickey Loomis ‘has a good chance’ to return as Saints GM in 2025

ESPN reports Mickey Loomis ‘has a good chance’ to return as Saints general manager in 2025. He’s already the longest-tenured GM in the league:

Mickey Loomis has just about run out of goodwill with New Orleans Saints fans. Between a playoff drought stretching into its fourth season, a dead-end head coaching hire in Dennis Allen, a series of condescending media appearances, and the decision to move training camp out of state and closed to fans, there haven’t been many moves made by his front office that fans can be proud of.

Plenty of fans have taken to social media calling for Loomis to step down from his post. But it doesn’t sound like that’s in the cards. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that sources around the league don’t expect big shakeup at the top of the Saints’ organization:

The early belief among league insiders is that Mickey Loomis has a good chance to remain as Saints general manager. That’s not 100%, but that’s what people in the know on these sorts of things are predicting. The Saints have traditionally valued connectivity/familiarity, which could be a factor in the interview process (for a new head coach).

It’s not like the Saints don’t have alternatives in the building. Khai Harley, their salary cap expert and vice president of football operations who owns the assistant GM title, has spent years working under Loomis to get the most out of every dollar. Jeff Ireland, also named an assistant GM and vice president of college personnel, is just one of the former general managers in the front office. The players he’s scouted in the draft have gone on to find pro success (frustratingly, too often after the Saints’ coaching staff failed to help them). Other executives and front office personnel like Michael Parenton, Dave Ziegler, and Randy Mueller either have experience leading an organization or are seen as rising stars who could do so.

The point of all this? If continuity to their success five, ten, or fifteen years ago is so important to the Saints, they can maintain that without stubbornly sticking to Loomis. He’s the longest-tenured general manager in the league but he doesn’t have the recent success to show for it. Ultimately the decision is up to Gayle Benson, who has often deferred to Loomis on football decisions. Things could change over the next month, but as it currently stands we should expect Loomis to continue calling the shots in New Orleans.

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Saints may regret waiting on Alvin Kamara’s contract extension

The Saints may regret waiting to shake hands on Alvin Kamara’s contract extension. He’s been an even greater fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense than advertised:

The New Orleans Saints may regret waiting to shake hands on Alvin Kamara’s contract extension. He’s been an even greater fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense than advertised. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted on Sunday morning, Kamara’s offseason push for a new deal went nowhere. He’s since tabled discussions until 2025 and focused on playing his best football.

And you can’t argue  with results. Kamara goes into Week 3 leading the league in scrimmage yards (290) and touchdowns scored (5). Kubiak’s zone-heavy run scheme has opened a lot of lanes for Kamara to work with, and they’re doing a better job getting him the ball in space as a receiver.

So now Kamara is headed into the final year of his contract in 2025, accounting for a staggering $29 million against next year’s salary cap. But  don’t fall for the distractions — the Saints have no intention of paying out the unguaranteed $25 million Kamara is owed next offseason, so no, he isn’t the NFL’s second-highest paid running back. They’ll have the option to cut him and save all $25 million if they choose.

But if Kamara keeps up this pace and has a career year? He just might have the Saints over a barrel. It would be really difficult for Mickey Loomis to justify cutting the fan-favorite focus of his offense (possibly coming off his first 1,000-yard season as a rusher), even if he’s 30. Loomis and Khai Harley are as creative in working around the cap as they come, but we can’t rule out the possibility they could be in a position where they have to pay Kamara  top-dollar.

Hopefully both sides can reach a deal in the spring after Kamara has enjoyed a strong season, leading the Saints back to the playoffs. He’s made it known he wants to finish his career in New Orleans. Let’s hope the Saints don’t end up regretting  not signing Kamara to a new deal this summer when they had the chance.

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New Orleans Saints hire Dave Ziegler as a personnel advisor

The New Orleans Saints are officially hiring ex-Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler as a personnel advisor after he helped them prepare for the 2024 NFL draft:

The New Orleans Saints have hired former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler as a personnel advisor, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. This comes after Ziegler worked with the Saints’ front office this offseason before the 2024 NFL draft in an advisory role, but now he’s an official voice in the room.

Ziegler has a long career in various positions across the league, including positions with the Denver Broncos from 2010-2012, New England Patriots from 2013-2021, and Raiders from 2022-2023. All of these roles in some capacity were related to scouting or personnel management, explaining why the Saints would consider him for this fit. He is also a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, including their 28-3 comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons.

He will join general manager Mickey Loomis, assistant general managers Jeff Ireland and Khai Harley, and others in the front office in scouting personnel for the Saints, and making decisions towards their future as a team. These types of roles are critical to the long-term success of a team in identifying and developing talent, and having the connections to winning that he has had previously is a good sign for what he can bring in this role.

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Panthers pass over Khai Harley to fill general manager position

The Panthers hired an internal candidate in Dan Morgan, not Saints executive Khai Harley, as their next general manager:

It looks like Khai Harley will be staying with the New Orleans Saints — the Carolina Panthers promoted an internal candidate to their general manager position after interviewing him, naming Dan Morgan to the post. Morgan had worked as their assistant general manager since 2021 and previously played for the Panthers as a Pro Bowl linebacker, though he finished his career with the Saints before retiring in 2009.

Carolina was the only reported interview request for Harley in this year’s cycle thus far, so unless another suitor emerges it’s safe to assume he’ll be staying in New Orleans. And that’s big news for the Saints front office. Harley’s management of the salary cap and knowledge of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement are indispensable resources.

He might be their future general manager, too. Speculation has swirled that longtime GM Mickey Loomis could step into a more hands-off role with the Saints someday, and while he said that may not happen in the near future, it isn’t something he would rule out altogether. If Loomis does vacate his seat then Harley would be a natural successor. But that’s a long ways off. For now Harley will be responsible for keeping the books in order and doing his part to help the Saints field a competitive team on Sundays.

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Mickey Loomis shoots down rumor, says he isn’t stepping down as GM

Mickey Loomis shoots down rumor, says he isn’t stepping down or changing his title as Saints general manager and executive vice president:

Forget what you read on social media: Mickey Loomis isn’t going anywhere. The New Orleans Saints general manager and executive vice president was asked about a rumor going around in fan communities online that he would be moving to a different role in the organization, freeing up one of his top assistants to succeed him as general manager.

And Loomis dismissed it as just that: a rumor.

“Somebody just made that up,” Loomis said. “That’s never been discussed or talked about.”

Loomis added that he could wake up one day and feel differently about his place in the organization, but as of now the course is set. He’ll remain in place as the team’s top decision-maker both in title and in practice.

That’s all happening in the wake of interview requests from other teams hoping to poach talent from the Saints’ front office. Loomis acknowledged that assistant general managers Khai Harley and Jeff Ireland were sought out by the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively, and he added that pro personnel director Michael Parenton is someone else he regards highly within their organization. Harley manages the salary cap, and Ireland covers the college scouting department, and there’s a chance both of them leave town in the near future.

That would be a mistake. Loomis might be the longest-tenured general manager in the league but he doesn’t have much to show for it without Sean Payton and Drew Brees. His Saints teams have gone a combined 44-54 from 2002 to 2005 and 2022 to 2023, before and after Payton was leading them. A lot was made of Loomis guiding the Saints to 200-plus career wins this season but Payton takes credit for 152 of them (and Super Bowl XLIV).

Losing talented executives like Ireland and Harley to protect Loomis’ job security is, well, laughable. But Loomis was all laughs at his end-of-year press conference on Wednesday. He isn’t going anywhere until he’s good and ready, and he took this opportunity to remind everyone watching that he’s in control here. Ownership won’t force him out, and he isn’t about to give up his title to benefit someone else. He wants to prove he can win without Payton. If that means standing by a coach like Dennis Allen, well — good luck.

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Chargers request interview with Saints’ Jeff Ireland for open GM job

The Chargers requested an interview with the Saints’ Jeff Ireland concerning their open general manager job:

Could the New Orleans Saints lose both of Mickey Loomis’ top lieutenants? NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Los Angeles Chargers have requested an interview with Jeff Ireland for their open general manager position; the Saints’ assistant general manager and vice president of college personnel has received several inquiries in recent years, but a job offer has yet to materialize. Ireland has ran his own team before as the Miami Dolphins general manager, though that stint ended without much success.

Still, there’s a good chance another team gives him a shot someday. That’s also true of New Orleans’ other assistant GM Khai Harley, their vice president of football operations who manages the team salary cap. Harley received an interview request from the Carolina Panthers as they also seek to hire a new general manager.

Which means there’s a real possibility that the Saints could lose each of their best internal candidates to replace Loomis someday in one offseason. Loomis is the longest-tenured general manager in the NFL and doesn’t appear to be ready to leave his post. If the Saints front office hemorrhages talent this offseason and he steps into a different role or retires in a few years, they could have a hard time replacing him.

Panthers 2024 GM search tracker

Join us as we track every candidate in the Panthers’ search for a new general manager

Congratulations, Carolina Panthers fans. You got a twofer this time around!

Not only will the organization be on their second head-coaching hunt in as many offseasons—but, with the dismissal of Scott Fitterer, they’ll also be on the prowl for a new general manager.

Keep it here as we track each candidate throughout the process.

Panthers confirm interview requests for 8 GM candidates

The Panthers confirmed interview requests for eight GM candidates on Monday.

Hmmm . . . it’s almost as if the Carolina Panthers knew they weren’t moving forward with Scott Fitterer.

On Monday, not even 12 hours after announcing his firing, the team confirmed their interview requests for eight general manager candidates.

The list is as follows:

  • New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager Mike Greenberg
  • Kansas City Chiefs vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis
  • Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby
  • New Orleans Saints assistant general manager Khai Harley
  • Baltimore Ravens vice president of football administration Nick Matteo
  • Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds
  • Las Vegas Raiders interim general manager Champ Kelly

Just as in their head-coaching hunt, where they’ve also confirmed interview requests for nine candidates, the Panthers are not permitted to hold in-person interviews for the position until Jan. 22.

This will be the first time the organization is set to hire both a new general manager and a new head coach in the same offseason since 2002.

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Panthers request interview with Saints’ Khai Harley for GM opening

The Panthers have requested an interview with Saints assistant GM Khai Harley, possibly giving him the chance to run his own team:

It didn’t take long for Khai Harley’s name to come up in the latest NFL hiring cycle. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported that the New Orleans Saints salary cap expert has been requested for an interview with the Carolina Panthers — who are seeking to hire a new general manager. CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones confirmed the report.

Harley officially carries the titles of assistant general manager and vice president of football operations with the Saints, but his primary focus has been directed at managing the salary cap. He pioneered the use of contract restructures that have become popular around the league, maximizing a team’s cap resources while taking advantage of the ever-rising salary cap.

So he’s a vitally important member of the organization. The Saints must approve the Panthers’ interview request before they can speak with Harley about the job, but they didn’t stop Terry Fontenot from leaving to join the Atlanta Falcons, so that’s likely going to be little more than a formality.

But will Harley have any interest in working for controversial Panthers owner David Tepper? Known as a bad boss with a penchant for meddling in personnel moves, joining Tepper may not be the best option for Harley. We’ll see if any other teams reach out. But there are only 32 general manager positions available, and Carolina’s cap situation is much easier to navigate than New Orleans’.

If there’s little or no possibility for advancement with the Saints, it shouldn’t shock anyone if Harley leaves for an opportunity to run his own team. We’ll have to wait and see how this situation develops and whether any other teams inquire about his services.

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Saints award Mickey Loomis a game ball for his 200th win as their general manager

The New Orleans Saints awarded Mickey Loomis a game ball for his 200th win as their general manager after taking down the Carolina Panthers:

The New Orleans Saints recognized Mickey Loomis for his 200th career win as their general manager on Sunday after taking down the Carolina Panthers, and it’s quite an achievement. Loomis is the longest-tenured general manager in the league (not counting owner-GM’s like Jerry Jones and head coach-GM’s such as Bill Belichick), and he’s joined rare company after seeing the team’s he’s built win 200 games.

Look at the names on the list of executives to see 200 wins: Tex Schramm, Bill Polian, Kevin Colbert, and Ozzie Newsome, plus Jones, Belichick, and Al Davis. That’s the kind of company Loomis keeps with his impressive longevity.

Saints owner Gayle Benson awarded Loomis a customized game ball for this achievement in the locker room after Sunday’s win.

“We’ve been waiting a little while to get this done,” said Saints head coach Dennis Allen in the locker room after the game, leading up to the presentation. The team first put out notice of Loomis closing in on this accomplishment after their Nov. 5 win over the Chicago Bears (his 199th victory), so they’ve presumably been waiting for a month during their three-game losing streak and bye week to put a pin in it.

So how much longer will Loomis lead the organization? Most executives retire or step into less-prominent roles at this stage in his career, but it’s anyone’s guess when Loomis will be ready to make a move. With promising GM candidates in the building like Khai Harley and Jeff Ireland, it feels like the Saints risk losing some talented people if this decision is put off for too long.

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