The New Orleans Saints have steadied themselves with a comeback win over the New York Giants, but general manager Mickey Loomis says the organization remains in the early stages of a rebuild as it prepares to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris on Sunday.
New Orleans erased a 10-point deficit against the NFC East-leading Giants after opening the season 1-4, a response that followed an unusually forceful message from owner Gayle Benson. Benson said she would not allow the club’s current standard of performance to become acceptable, putting the front office, coaching staff and roster under heightened scrutiny.
Loomis, who has directed football operations in New Orleans for nearly a quarter-century, said discomfort can be useful when a team is struggling.
“At times, everybody needs to feel a little uncomfortable,” Loomis said Wednesday. “That is all right.”
A rebuilding roster under pressure
The Saints had only seven losing seasons across Loomis’ first 20 years as general manager. Their recent record has been far less consistent: since 2022, New Orleans has finished above .500 only once, in 2023.
That slide has intensified the focus on Loomis and head coach Kellen Moore. Moore is in his second year as a first-time NFL head coach and has coached 23 regular-season games, while quarterback Tyler Shough has made only six starts in his first full campaign as the Saints’ starter.
Loomis urged patience with both figures, describing the Saints as a young team still developing.
“I like where this team is headed,” Loomis said. “We have a young club that is still growing. We also have a young head coach who is 23 games into his career, and that is the reality of where we are.”
He also cautioned against setting expectations for Shough beyond what the quarterback has established so far, saying the public’s expectations have outpaced his NFL résumé.
New Orleans entered 2026 with optimism after closing last season strongly, with some viewing the NFC South as an attainable division race. Instead, the Saints fell to the bottom of the division during their 1-4 start. Shough has flashed promise, particularly in several early second halves, but the offense has not yet made the leap expected under Moore.
Questions have consequently emerged about Moore’s long-term future beyond 2026, though Loomis said an evaluation of that kind should wait.
“That is something for later,” Loomis said. “He is 23 games into his career with a team that is rebuilding. I like what I have seen.”
Tyson’s absence has limited the passing game
Rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson has yet to play after a preseason hamstring injury. The Saints selected Tyson with the No. 8 overall pick intending to add another major threat to their passing attack, but the injury delayed his NFL debut.
Tyson dealt with hamstring issues during his college career at Arizona State, although Loomis said the current injury is unrelated to those previous problems.
“This is not the same injury he had before,” Loomis said. “Those things can happen to any player. It is unfortunate that it came at the start of his career, but hopefully it is the only one.”
Loomis said the Saints were encouraged by Tyson’s work before the injury and are eager to get him back on the field.
The Giants victory offered New Orleans a needed reset, but it will not remove the larger pressure surrounding the franchise. A third consecutive losing season would increase scrutiny on Loomis, one of North American professional sports’ longest-serving general managers. He also previously spent nearly a decade overseeing Benson’s NBA team, the New Orleans Pelicans.
For now, the Saints will try to build on their Week 6 turnaround when they meet the Steelers in Paris, with ownership’s demand for better results still hanging over the season.
