Saints Owner Gayle Benson Backs Kellen Moore Despite Slow Start

Public support at practice

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson made a surprising appearance at practice on Friday to support coach Kellen Moore. She embraced Moore in front of everyone, giving a clear sign that no coaching changes are coming right now.

This public display comes just days after Benson expressed her frustration with the team. On Tuesday, she spoke at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club and made it clear that a 1-4 record is not acceptable. She noted that fans invest their time and money and deserve better results. She also stated that words will not restore fan confidence, only better performance on the field will do that.

A tough start to the season

The Saints have lost three straight games after a promising start. Their defense currently ranks 25th in the league, giving up 30.2 points per game, which is the second highest average in the NFL.

The offense has struggled as well. Second year quarterback Tyler Shough and the team have turned the ball over eight times during this three game losing streak. A lack of a consistent running game has hurt their balance.

Injuries have made things even harder. First round pick Jordyn Tyson has missed action with a hamstring injury. Free agent running back Travis Etienne is on injured reserve, alongside left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

Pressure on the coaching staff

Moore is in his second year as head coach. New Orleans finished 6-11 last year, but they won five of their final eight games. That strong finish created high expectations for this season.

Back in January, general manager Mickey Loomis said the team wanted to win the division and make a deep playoff run. Right now, the team is falling short of those goals, putting extra pressure on Moore and his staff to turn things around quickly.