New Orleans Saints have sacked head coach Dennis Allen following their seventh consecutive defeat of the season.

Sunday’s narrow 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers marked the franchise’s longest losing streak since 1999.

Allen departs having failed to reach the play-offs in his two-and-a-half season tenure, with 18 wins from his 43 games in charge.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will take the helm on an interim basis for the rest of the campaign.

In a statement Saints owner Gayle Benson said the decision to part company with Allen was “very tough” but one they “needed to make”.

General manager Mickey Loomis added: “This season we have had an avalanche of injuries. It took its toll and Dennis Allen has never offered any excuses.”

Allen, 52, previously spent two years in the head coach role at the then-Oakland Raiders before becoming defensive coordinator in New Orleans and stepping up to the top job in 2022, when Sean Payton walked away.

He becomes the second NFL coach to lose his job this season, with Robert Saleh having been dismissed by the New York Jets last month.