Saints GM Mickey Loomis is nearing retirement age, but he's not thinking about riding off into the sunset any time soon.
When asked Monday if he'd even considered the idea, the 68-year-old had a simple answer: "No"
He then went on to elaborate: "I’ve got a passion for the sport. I’ve got a passion for the Saints. I’ve got a passion for all of it. I feel like I’ve got all my faculties here. ... Nobody would ask me that question if I wasn’t 68."
He'd even offer to face you in a round of golf if pressed, though I don't think anyone is questioning that part of his game. It's the daunting course ahead on Airline Drive that feels a lot more difficult.
He said he understands why fans are frustrated after a 4th consecutive season missing the playoffs. When asked why those fans should trust him to get things right this time, he kept the answer simple again: "Because we've done it before."
Loomis spoke to the assembled media this week for the first time since training camp and after a season that featured a coach firing in Week 9. The Saints are coming off their worst season since 2005, the last year before Sean Payton was hired and the outlook seemed to change overnight. Such a turnaround has happened before, and it's not all that uncommon. The Saints GM would point to Payton's quick rebuild in Denver and Dan Campbell's with the Lions and connect the dots back to New Orleans as a point of pride.
"I know how much the success of our team impacts our city. So I take it personal when we’re not successful. All of our guys take it personal," Loomis said. "That’s just part of being in New Orleans, it kind of gets into your blood and kind of gets into your soul and so not having a successful season is painful and, so, look, I’m as determined as ever to get us back in the playoffs, let’s get us back on the right track here and ... I know we can do that, I know I can."
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The first step in that process will be executing the second head coaching search in three seasons, but with some new faces in the building. The Saints don't anticipate turnover in the front office, but there will be tweaks and adjustments made to the process. The Saints brought in former NFL GMs Randy Mueller and Dave Zeigler, who will be involved in the coaching search. Assistant GMs Khai Harley and Jeff Ireland, as well as pro personnel director Michael Parenton will be directly involved.
The Saints have conducted a handful of Zoom interviews, which include Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, Lions DC Aaron Glenn and Giants OC Mike Kafka. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi is also interviewing for the full-time job. Eagles OC Kellen Moore, Bills OC Joe Brady and Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury are among the candidates the Saints are expected to add to that list.
Another name to watch will be Mike McCarthy, who has ties to the Saints as a former OC from 2000-'04, which overlaps with when Mueller was the GM in New Orleans. It was officially announced on Monday that McCarthy and the Cowboys would be parting ways after 5 years, which included three consecutive 12-5 campaigns before a down 2024 season marred by injuries.
Loomis wouldn't address any specifics in the coaching search, but said it's possible that more names could end up on the list in the coming weeks. He did add that there's no desired archetype for the coach, be it offensive, defensive or special teams.
“What’s really important is to be able to have a collective vision and be on the same page organizationally, ownership, GM, coach, coaches, personnel department. We have to have the same collective vision and we’ll get to that," Loomis continued. "All of these candidates are going to have strengths and weaknesses and we’ve got our strengths and weaknesses and blindspots, but you’ll just have to go through that and figure out – and we will – who the best fit is for us.”
Until that coach is in the building, a lot of the rest will take a backseat. The Saints still hadn't completed a lot of their evaluation of the season. Assistants are still under contract and are being allowed to interview for other jobs -- Klint Kubiak with the Browns and Seahawks -- on a case-by-case basis. The Saints could block those interviews if they so desired, but Loomis said the team didn't want to interfere with job prospects when they couldn't guarantee a spot returning with them.
The next head coach is expected to have carte blanche to rebuild the team in whatever image they choose. That rebuild could also require an overhaul in how college and pro scouts target players. Loomis agrees there are changes and tweaks and things that need to be done better to get the Saints back to prominence. Until that hire takes place the picture is blurry, at least everything below the front office.
"Any new coach is gonna set a tone and define the vision for what the culture is gonna look like for his team," Loomis said, "and so that has yet to be determined.”