Gayle Benson didn’t mince words. The Saints owner publicly blasted her team after a brutal 1-4 start, calling out head coach Kellen Moore and, perhaps more surprisingly, longtime general manager Mickey Loomis. According to The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones, Benson’s blunt frustration caught a lot of people around the NFL off guard.
Owner Cracks Down on Accountability
It wasn’t some veiled statement. During an eight-minute speech at a Tuesday luncheon, Benson straight-up called the Saints’ 1-4 record “not acceptable,” according to NOLA.com’s Rod Walker and Matthew Paras. She laid out exactly who was responsible for what. Benson said Kellen Moore and his staff are “responsible for preparing out players to perform.” Then she dropped the real bomb: “Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success.” And for herself? “I am responsible for holding this organization accountable.” Folks Jones talked to don’t remember Benson ever being so pointed, and that mention of Loomis? Jones reported it really “caught the attention of many around the league.” One Saints source summed up Benson’s comments perfectly: “It obviously means get s–t together.”
Mickey Loomis: The Unmovable Force?
Mickey Loomis is basically Mr. Saints, right? He’s in his 25th year as GM, longer than anyone else with GM in their title not named Jerry Jones. He’s always been seen as a “lifetime appointee” to the Saints GM position. That’s why Benson calling him out directly hit different. She’s backed him before, too. After a 2-8 start to the 2025 season, Benson told The Times-Picayune’s Jeff Duncan that considering firing Loomis was “ridiculous.” But one winning season and zero playoff appearances since Sean Payton stepped down ahead of the 2022 season? That changes things. Only six teams have won fewer games than the Saints over that span, per StatMuse. This isn’t just a bad patch, it’s a trend.
Moore Tries to Brush It Off, But The Heat Is On
Coach Kellen Moore tried to play it cool after practice on Friday, saying he and Benson “talked throughout the week, and so we’re all good.” He added, “We’re all just trying to reach the same goal. We all want to win football games, and so we’re all working towards that.” He even got a hug from Mrs. B on the sideline during practice, which was caught on video by Locked On Saints’ Ross Jackson. Moore said, “It’s always good to see Mrs. B. She likes to pop in and catch some practice here and there… she’s always supportive.” Yeah, supportive, but also demanding, especially when the record is 1-4.
So, all eyes are on Sunday. The Saints hit the road to face Jameis Winston and the New York Giants. Moore will get his next chance to turn this 2026 season around and potentially take some heat off Loomis. If they don’t show something different, you gotta wonder how much more Benson’s patience has left.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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