New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson expressed her strongest public support yet for general manager Mickey Loomis, calling his demands to fire the longtime football team executive “ridiculous.”
During an exclusive interview with the Times-Picayune on Thursday, Benson strongly supported the Saints general manager, saying she held him in “high regard” and was “pleased” with his work.
“It might not be what the fans want to hear, but as far as firing Mickey Loomis, it’s ridiculous,” Benson said. “(He) does a great job.”
Loomis has become a lightning rod for fan criticism following the team’s slow start to the 2025 season. The team’s 1-8 start was the franchise’s worst since 1980. At 2-8, the Saints are tied with the New York Giants for the worst record in the NFC.
The Saints, meanwhile, have lost 21 of their last 26 games, dating back to last season, and are on pace to miss the playoffs for a fifth straight year. This is the club’s longest playoff drought since the early 2000s.
“You don’t think Mickey Loomis loses sleep at night over all this? That’s true,” Benson said. “It’s hard. It’s not an easy job. It’s not like he’s sitting on his ass not caring about things.”
In his 24th season as the club’s general manager, Loomis, 68, is the longest-tenured general manager in the NFL. His tenure includes the most successful run in franchise history, including seven NFC South division titles, nine playoff appearances and the club’s only Super Bowl title in 2009.
But the Saints have struggled to replicate the success of the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era. They haven’t made the playoffs since Brees retired in 2020 and have seen their win total decline in each of the last three seasons.
In defending Loomis, Benson listed several highlights of his tenure, including the hiring of Payton, the free agent signing of Brees and the historic NFL draft classes of 2006 and 2017. (The full Q&A will be posted on NOLA.com later Friday morning.)
“Mickey is one of the oldest and most respected general managers in the NFL. In 2006, he was the only voice in our building to hire Sean Payton,” Benson said. “When I’m asked to hold Mickey Loomis accountable, I do. Not every decision works, it never works. … I hold him in high regard and am very happy with what he has accomplished and acquired and built.”
Benson’s comments come four days after the Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 17-7 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The win ended a four-game losing streak and came in rookie Tyler Shough’s second career start at quarterback.
“I’m very disappointed, like everyone else, but we’re in rebuilding mode,” Benson said. “Mickey said that from the beginning of the season. … I understand how the fans feel. I really do. And I feel bad for the fans, but we told everyone at the beginning, this was going to be a tough year, and it’s been a tough year.”
