'Get S--t Together,' Gayle Benson's Surprising Quote on Saints, Loomis Draws Reaction from NFL Execs

People around the NFL were surprised with New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson's willingness to bluntly express frustration with her team's 1-4 start to the season, The Athletic's Jonathan Jones reported Saturday.

Benson directly called out head coach Kellen Moore and general manager Mickey Loomis while describing the Saints' record as "not acceptable" during an eight-minute speech at a Tuesday luncheon, according to NOLA.com's Rod Walker and Matthew Paras .

According to Jones, the mention of Loomis especially "caught the attention of many around the league."

"Loomis is seen as, essentially, a lifetime appointee to the Saints GM position... Loomis is in his 25th year as GM, longer than anyone else with GM in his title not named Jerry Jones," Jones noted.

According to Jones, one Saints source said about Benson's comments, "It obviously means get s--t together."

Benson said in her speech she saw Kellen Moore and his staff as "responsible for preparing out players to perform," per Walker and Paras.

"Mickey Loomis and our football staff are responsible for building a roster capable of sustained success," Benson continued, per Walker and Paras. "Our players are responsible for their preparation and execution. I am responsible for holding this organization accountable."

Jones reported Saturday that "folks I talk to don't remember Benson ever being so pointed."

Benson attended Saints practice on Friday. The two could be seen embracing on the sideline in a video shared by Locked On Saints' Ross Jackson.

"It's always good to see Mrs. B. She likes to pop in and catch some practice here and there... she's always supportive," Moore told reporters Friday.

When asked if Benson had addressed her comments, Moore said, "We talked throughout the week, and so we're all good... we're all just trying to reach the same goal. We all want to win football games, and so we're all working towards that."

The Saints have recorded just one winning campaign and no playoff appearances since Sean Payton stepped down ahead of the 2022 season. Only six teams have won fewer games than the Saints over that span, per StatMuse .

Benson has previously backed Loomis during this stretch. She told The Times-Picayune 's Jeff Duncan after a 2-8 start to the 2025 season it was "ridiculous" to consider firing the Saints' longtime general manager.

Moore will get his next chance to turn the 2026 season around and potentially take some heat off Loomis when the Saints return to action with a Sunday road game against Jameis Winston and the New York Giants.