Saints' owner rips 1-4 start in public callout, says fans 'deserve better'

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  Katherine TerrellOct 13, 2026, 06:06 PM ET

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  Katherine Terrell came back to ESPN to cover the New Orleans Saints in the summer of 2022. She left the company in 2019 after joining in 2016 to cover the Cincinnati Bengals. Katherine is a graduate of LSU and a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native, and she has covered the NFL since 2013.

In a rare public criticism of her team, owner Gayle Benson said the Saints' 1-4 start was "not acceptable" and vowed to deliver better results to New Orleans fans.

Benson, speaking to the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club on Tuesday, said she has heard the frustration from fans "very loudly" after a three-game losing streak, saying that she expects better and the fans "deserve better."

"Our fans invest our time and their hearts in the Saints," Benson said. "They are right to expect more than we have delivered."

Benson called out several members of the organization and said the responsibility starts with her as an owner. She said she will not make excuses or "accept this level of performance as our standard."

"Kellen Moore and his coaches are responsible for preparing our players to perform," Benson said. "Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success. Our players are responsible for their preparation and execution."

Moore currently has a 7-15 record in his second season with the Saints. Loomis, who has been the Saints' general manager since 2002, has not seen the team go to the playoffs since the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era in 2020.

Benson specifically called out the Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football, noting it was "truly disappointing" to lose the game on a night that was intended to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. She also spoke about honoring Brees at halftime of a loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week and said "the best way to honor that legacy is to uphold [his] standards today."

"Words will not restore our fans' confidence," Benson said, "our performance must do that."