The Week 13 matchup between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints brings up an interesting what if. What if Sean Payton retired a year earlier? Who would the Saints hired as their new head coach? When Sean Payton temporarily retired after the 2021 season, he gave his recommendation for who his successor should be. The answer was Dennis Allen.
At the time, Dan Campbell had just finished his first year as the Detroit Lions head coach. Therefore, he wasn’t an option. Prior being hired by Detroit, he was the assistant head coach for the Saints. His role would have made him a logical replacement for Payton. He still provides the same continuity that attracted New Orleans to Allen, and the Saints valued him.
The first year and a half of Allen’s tenure would tell you he wasn’t the right guy. If Allen and Campbell were both on the coaching staff when Payton retired, Allen still might have been the guy. However, the way Campbell has turned around the Lions makes you wonder how the Saints would have fared with him in charge.
Who would Payton have recommended if both were options? Like how to get middle of a tootsie roll pop, the world may never know.
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