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New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis, while successful by most measures, has seemingly failed in one crucial metric.
By most accounts, New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis has done a good job of building one of the NFL’s most consistently successful franchises over the long haul. That success translated into a Super Bowl championship in 2009.
While there is an inevitable ebb and flow in teams’ overall success, Loomis has done a good job of navigating what seems to be a solid rebuild.
That said, the Saints GM has failed on a crucial metric. According to a study by the research team at Betway, Loomis is at the bottom of the NFL rankings in terms of most popular GMs. Per the data, Loomis ranks 28th in the league with a 17% positive approval rating.
The number may seem dismal, but it’s still much better than Arizona Cardinals’ GM Monti Ossenfort, who’s got an 8% approval rating.
Topping the list, unsurprisingly, is John Schneider of the Seattle Seahawks. The Super Bowl-winning exec has a 69% positive rating.
One might think that number would be higher given the Seahawks’ championship. But it’s tough to win over the hearts of fans and the media.
So, the question is: How did the Saints GM get such a low approval rating?
The folks at Betway measured the mentions of each GM in their respective locations using a social listening app called Brandwatch. The research team monitored positive and negative mentions, determining the percentage of user sentiment regarding each executive.
The data thus shows that New Orleans Saints fans aren’t too thrilled with Loomis’ current administration. But that’s something that should be taken with a grain of salt.
Saints Going through Tough Rebuild
Naturally, any team going through a rebuild would evoke less-than-positive emotions in its fanbase. After all, it’s tough to see the good in a 6-11 season. While there were some solid positive points, Saints fans might not be so encouraged about the future.
That’s why it makes sense that Loomis wouldn’t rank very high among Saints fans at the moment. The sentiment would be much different if the Saints were a championship-caliber team at this point.
So, the numbers, while accurate, reflect a jaded perception of fans. It’s like political polling numbers. If the economy is doing great, politicians get solid approval numbers. But if the economy is tanking or inflation is kicking up, the numbers reflect that.
It wouldn’t be crazy to assume that a solid Saints season in 2026 could turn Loomis’ numbers around.
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Could Loomis’ Popularity Help the Team?
There’s something to be said about a popular coach or GM helping the team. That help generally comes in the way of players wanting to sign with the team or potential free agents being reluctant to leave.
A team like the Saints could benefit from Loomis, who’s been one of the NFL’s most experienced executives. In the past, attracting free agents and high-end prospects had never been an issue.
As such, an overall popular executive like Loomis could be just what the Saints need to take that next step in the rebuild. This offseason, the signings of Travis Etienne Jr. and Kaden Elliss were good examples of that.
Those signings could be the beginning of a new era in New Orleans. If so, let’s see if the numbers tell a different story down the line.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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