Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis Says Team Is on a Path to Success Despite 2-4 Start
VERSAILLES, France — Oct. 21, 2026 — Mickey Loomis, executive vice president and general manager of the New Orleans Saints, said Wednesday he believes the Saints can reach their season goals despite a 2-4 start. The team held its first practice at Municipal Stadium Montbauron in Versailles as it prepared for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) at Stade de France. Loomis spoke after the club returned from a 34-27 victory over the New York Giants that snapped a three-game losing streak. He said the organization sees signs it can convert better preparation into consistent results.
Loomis pointed to the win over the Giants as evidence of progress and acknowledged owner Gayle Benson’s public frustration when the club sat at 1-4. He said that sentiment was widely shared inside the building and that occasional discomfort can prompt improvement. “I understood where she was coming from and I think every once in a while, we all need to be a little uncomfortable,” Loomis said. He added that the mood in the organization lifted after the victory.
He emphasized that process and player development are priorities as the Saints work to turn preparation into outcomes. “Process is probably a little more on the forefront as opposed to the outcome,” Loomis said, and he noted the team’s relative youth. He pointed out that head coach Kellen Moore is 23 games into his career and said he will complete a full evaluation of Moore after the season. Loomis stressed that the club’s goals have not changed despite different expectations for a young team.
Loomis said he still sees a path to a high level of success this season and cited several games that the Saints could have won. He mentioned a 31-30 overtime loss at Detroit that ended on a failed two-point conversion and a game in Las Vegas in which New Orleans held a 27-16 lead in the third quarter. The team’s practice report said linebacker Kaden Elliss (calf) and defensive lineman Nathan Shepherd (illness) participated in the portion of practice open to media, while right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee) did not practice. Rookie Jeremiah Wright, who finished the Giants game, worked with the starters on Wednesday.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Loomis’s remarks underscore that process-driven development is central for a young roster and often precedes consistent wins. The Saints’ close losses indicate the team is competitive but has not yet learned to finish games, and the decision to wait until the end of the season for a final coaching evaluation signals a preference for stability while assessing direction. If New Orleans sustains momentum from the Giants win and improves availability along the offensive line, the narrow margins that decided earlier games could swing in the Saints’ favor.