Gayle Benson has put the New Orleans Saints on notice after a third consecutive defeat dropped the club to 1-4, with the owner saying the organization’s current standard is unacceptable ahead of Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants.
Key takeaways
- The Saints have opened a second straight season at 1-4 after losing three games in a row.
- New Orleans managed only nine first downs in Sunday’s 23-13 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.
- The defense allowed Minnesota a season-best 364 yards and ranks 31st in the NFL in points surrendered.
- Benson assigned accountability to coach Kellen Moore, general manager Mickey Loomis, the players and herself.
- New Orleans will visit the 3-1-1 Giants at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
Benson demands a response
Speaking Tuesday at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club, Benson said she would not offer explanations for the Saints’ start and would not allow poor performance to become acceptable within the franchise.
“I am committed to taking the steps needed to make this team better,” Benson said. “Everybody in this organization knows how urgent this is. We have to be better prepared, execute with consistency and fix the errors that are costing us games.”
Benson said the club’s actions, rather than public statements, must rebuild the confidence of its fan base. She did not identify specific personnel changes or decisions that could follow, but she directly addressed the responsibilities of Moore and Loomis.
Moore, in his second season as head coach, and his staff are charged with having players ready on game day, Benson said. Loomis, the Saints’ general manager since 2002, and the football operations staff must construct a roster that can win over the long term. Players must handle their own preparation and execution, while Benson said it is her duty to hold every level of the organization accountable.
“There is still a lot of football left,” Benson said, “but the answer has to be visible on the field.”
Recent losses have deepened the frustration
The Vikings game followed an especially difficult Monday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. New Orleans was beaten 45-24 by its division rival during a prime-time celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the Saints’ return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina.
Benson recalled the emotional significance of the original Domecoming, including Steve Gleason’s iconic blocked punt and the atmosphere as New Orleans rallied around the city’s return. She said the loss to Atlanta in this year’s anniversary game was deeply disappointing and noted that fans’ memories of the occasion reinforced the franchise’s importance to the community.
The following week, the Saints honored Drew Brees by placing the Hall of Fame quarterback in the team’s Ring of Honor. But the 23-13 loss to Minnesota overshadowed another day intended to celebrate the franchise’s past.
New Orleans began the 2026 season with a controversial 31-30 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions, hurt by a disputed fumble ruling that favored Detroit. The Saints responded with an unexpected victory over the Baltimore Ravens, then lost a close game to the Las Vegas Raiders before the recent lopsided defeats to Atlanta and Minnesota.
The same 1-4 record looked different a year ago. Moore’s first Saints team started 0-4, improved to 1-4 and later showed enough progress during a 6-11 finish to create optimism around quarterback Tyler Shough. The 2026 club instead sits alone in last place in the NFC South, although no division team owns a winning record.
New Orleans now heads to New York needing a sharp turnaround against the Giants, who enter Sunday at 3-1-1.
