New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson said the team’s 1-4 start to the 2026 season is unacceptable, delivering a pointed message about urgency and accountability during a speech Tuesday at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club luncheon.
“That is not acceptable to me, and it falls short of what our fans truly deserve,” Benson said. “I hear the frustration directed toward our team and our organization. It is not lost on me.
Our fans invest their time, their money and their hearts in the Saints. They are right to expect more than we have delivered.”
Benson’s Message On The Saints’ 1-4 Start
The Saints have dropped three straight games, all at home, and sit in last place in the NFC South. Their most recent setback came Sunday, a 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in which quarterback Tyler Shough threw two interceptions and completed for just 96 yards. New Orleans managed only nine first downs on offense in that game, according to NFL.com.
Benson did not soften her assessment of where the franchise stands. “As an owner, the responsibility does start with me,” she said. “I will not make excuses, and I will not accept this level of performance as our standard.
I am committed to making the decisions necessary to improve this team. Everyone in this organization understands the urgency. We must prepare better, execute consistently and correct the mistakes that are costing us the games.”
She added that the burden of restoring trust with fans falls on what happens on the field, not on her words. “Words will not restore our fans’ confidence,” Benson said. “Our performance must do that.”
What It Means For Moore And Loomis
Benson laid out a chain of accountability that named head coach Kellen Moore and general manager Mickey Loomis directly, according to Yahoo Sports. “Kellen Moore and his coaches are responsible for preparing our players to perform,” she said. “Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success.
The players are responsible for their preparation and execution. I am responsible for holding this organization accountable.” She also spoke directly to the coaching staff in attendance.
“Our obligation to deliver better football remains very clear,” Benson said. “To the coaches here today, you all know what leadership requires when your team struggles. You confront the problems, make corrections and hold yourself to the same standard you demand of others.
That is what I expect throughout our organization.”
Benson said she is committed to making whatever decisions are necessary to turn the team around, though she did not specify what those decisions might involve, according to NFL.com. Moore is in his second season as head coach after New Orleans went 6-11 in his first year. Loomis has served as the Saints’ general manager since 2002.
Context: A Franchise Still Searching For Consistency
The Saints’ lone win this season came in Week 2, a 24-17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Their other losses include a 45-24 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons, which came on the day the team celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the Superdome’s reopening. New Orleans has missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons and has struggled to establish offensive consistency since longtime quarterback Drew Brees retired after the 2020 season, according to Bleacher Report. The division offers little relief, as no NFC South team currently holds a winning record, but New Orleans sits at the bottom of that group.
Benson’s Direct Appeal To Fans
Benson closed her remarks by addressing supporters directly. “To our fans, I hear you very loudly,” she said. “I understand your disappointment, and I share your determination to see this team succeed.
Your support deserves a response you can see on the field. We cannot change the results of our first five games. We are responsible for what we do next.
I expect better, our fans deserve better, and I am determined to see that we do it for them.”
What’s Next
Benson did not detail a timeline for the organizational changes she referenced, and neither Moore nor Loomis has publicly responded to her comments. The Saints remain in what has been described as a rebuilding stage with Moore in his second season, and their next step toward reversing the 1-4 start will come on the field in their following game.
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