Saints GM Mickey Loomis Shut Down Retirement Speculation

“I’ve got a passion for the sport, I’ve got a passion for the Saints, I’ve got a passion for all of it,” he said via the team website. “I feel like I’ve got all my faculties here. Nobody would ask me that question…if I wasn’t 68 they wouldn’t ask me the question.”

“If I ever felt like my acumen or my ability to think and ability to do the things necessary in this job were waning, I’d be the first guy to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute.’ So, no, retirement is not on my mind. Getting back to the playoffs and winning football, that’s what’s on my mind.”

Loomis’ age isn’t the only reason that retirement has been floated. The Saints have struggled the past few years with a current playoff drought of four years. They haven’t been able to recover from losing QB Drew Brees and HC Sean Payton, and Loomis has drawn fire for his unwillingness to embrace change. 

However, there’s no indication Loomis is on the hot seat with Saints owner Gayle Benson, though it’s clear she’s starting to lose patience with the lack of results. Benson overruled Loomis to fire HC Dennis Allen this season. 

Loomis, 68, started his career on the business side with the Seahawks in 1983 and spent 15 years in Seattle in various roles. He was hired by the Saints as the director of football administration in 2000 and was promoted to general manager two years later. 

He’s held that role ever since and received a promotion in 2013 to add executive vice president to his title. He was also an EVP for seven years for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA at the same time as holding that role for the Saints. 

In 23 seasons under Loomis, the Saints have a record of 208-164 (.559 winning percentage) with nine playoff appearances, a 9-8 postseason record and a Super Bowl title in 2009.