The New Orleans Saints became the second team to gain a head start in the NFL coaching carousel by firing Dennis Allen on Monday.

He succeeds Robert Saleh, who was released by the New York Jets last month. Allen's departure appeared imminent as the Saints lost their seventh straight game on Sunday after two wins to start the season.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will serve as the team's interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and here are five early candidates who could become the Saints' next head coach this offseason.

5. Mike Vrabel, Browns agent

Vrabel, 49, is spending this season as a consultant for Cleveland after parting ways with Tennessee last offseason. Vrabel, the 2021 NFL Coach of the Year, spent six years at the helm of the Titans. He is well-respected in league circles and is expected to be on the short list for several vacancies this offseason.

4. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator

As impressive as the Lions' offense is, Glenn did an excellent job leading the defense as it continued to confuse opponents following the devastating injury to passer Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit is allowing an average of 357.1 yards per game, but a significant portion of that comes during the period of overwhelming victories. The Lions are allowing just 18.5 points per game, good for sixth in the NFL entering Monday night.

Glenn, 52, has ties to the Saints franchise. After ending his playing career with one season in New Orleans in 2008, he returned to serve as the team's defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2020 before taking the reins of the Lions' defense. The big hurdle to a potential third stint in New Orleans could be the team's interest in an offensive-minded head coach after Allen's failed tenure.

3. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

Brady has been praised for his work with Josh Allen & Co. since taking over midseason in 2023. Despite replacing Stefon Diggs last offseason and Allen working with a mediocre group of wide receivers, Buffalo is fifth in the NFL averaging 28.9 points per game.

Brady also has strong ties to New Orleans, working as an offensive assistant for the Saints from 2017 to 2018 before moving to LSU's passing game coordinator the following season. After two years as offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, Brady moved to Buffalo in 2022. He would potentially be the NFL's youngest head coach, having just turned 35 in September.

2. Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator

Staying true to the offense-focused theme, Monken currently oversees the NFL's fourth-ranked offense in total yards and is the second-best offense at 31.4 points per game. Monken, 58, is a longtime offensive coordinator at the professional and college levels. He came to Baltimore last season after leading Georgia's offense for three years, winning two national titles.

Monken began his coaching career at Division II Grand Valley State in 1989 and has had stints at Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and LSU in addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Bucs and Cleveland Browns.

1. Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator

Yes, Bill Belichick may be the biggest name available this offseason, but no one appears to be more in demand than Johnson. The Lions “only” have the seventh-ranked overall offense in the league, but Detroit regularly blows away its opponents as its offense leads the NFL with an average of 32.3 points per game.

How interested Johnson is in the Saints job could depend on where New Orleans stands at the end of the season when it comes to acquiring one of the top QBs in the draft and what other vacancies become available.

–Field level media