It was time.

Dennis Allen left the Saints no choice.

As difficult as it was for owner Gayle Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis to say goodbye to the coach they hand-picked to succeed Sean Payton, a change had to happen.

The Saints season had gone from bad to worse and hopeless. The performances had dropped to an embarrassing level. The entire organization plunged into a Ditka-esque low, with veiled comments from some players and clownish remarks from others.

Mid-season coaching changes are rarely successful. With the Saints in such disarray and dysfunction on the field, it is doubtful that Darren Rizzi or any other interim head coach will be able to stop the bleeding. But Allen’s tenure was over.

Although he was never blessed with a Hall of Fame quarterback and his three-year tenure was marred by injuries and chronic salary cap issues, Allen’s record had become indefensible. In the four-decade Benson era, only Mike Ditka (.313) owns a worse winning percentage than Allen’s .418 (18-25) with the Saints. His 26-53 won/lost record is the worst among active coaches and one of the worst of the modern NFL era.

To paraphrase Payton after his performance against Charles Brown in 2014: “We had seen enough. It’s about time.” With half a season left to play, the ship had to be righted. Maintaining the status quo would have been management malpractice.

That said, firing someone is never a cause for celebration, and it couldn’t have been an easy decision for the Saints’ brain trust. Benson and Loomis not only hired Allen, but also staunchly defended him despite recent public pressure. He was their man. Firing him in the middle of the season is admitting a mistake. And a precious one.

Allen’s contract terms are unknown, but he will walk away with a golden parachute. And historically, the Saints don’t like paying people not to work for them.

But losing to the lowly Carolina Panthers was the last straw.

Regardless of how you feel about the club’s prospects for 2025 or Allen’s acumen as a head coach, he is a good man who has worked tirelessly to make things work for the Saints. He cares deeply about the city and played a key role in the most successful series in franchise history. He deserves respect and should one day earn a black jacket in the Saints Hall of Fame.

As for the Saints, there’s a tough road ahead. The roster is one of the worst in the league and the salary cap remains a perennial disaster. As attractive as NFL jobs are, luring an elite candidate to such a messy situation won’t be easy.

The transaction is also a bummer on Loomis’ resume. He hired Allen and gave him every opportunity to be successful. He helped Allen recruit Derek Carr to New Orleans as his quarterback and allowed him to get rid of both the offensive and defensive coaching staffs. In the end, none of it worked.

Now he faces a second major head coaching appointment in three years. He can’t afford to miss this one.

The Saints organization is at a crossroads. The club needs an influx of fresh blood and new ideas. The club’s passionately loyal fan base is desperate for hope and positive momentum. Monday’s decision was a necessary first step in that direction. But the changes shouldn’t stop with the head coach.