New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson told reporters Tuesday she’s confident that the team’s players are “working as hard as they can” amid their 2-5 start to the season, but didn’t rule out changes after the year, per a video posted by WDSU-TV.

“At the end of the season, we’ll kind of look at things and see what we need to change, but for right now, I think they’re going to be OK,” Benson said.

The Saints were a trendy pick to take a step forward as a team this year in head coach Kellen Moore’s second year at the helm and emerging quarterback Tyler Shough’s first full year as the starter.

Though the Saints are well within striking distance of winning the NFC South, the team has certainly fallen short of expectations so far.

“They’re going to try the best they can, and that’s really all they can do,” Benson said.

Heading out of their bye week, the Saints made one notable adjustment in dismissing run-game coordinator T.J. Paganetti. The Saints rank 28th in the league in rushing yardage this season, and the run game was particularly ineffective vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris, where the team posted 18 yards on 17 attempts.

Benson said in mid-October, while speaking at a Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club luncheon, that the Saints’ performance was “not acceptable,” and she explicitly put pressure on Moore and general manager Mickey Loomis to right the ship. Her comments Tuesday struck a more patient tone.

Benson was also asked about the possibility of the Saints playing another international game in the near future, this time in Italy.

“Well, we’re working on that, but it all depends on the league. They tell us where to go,” Benson said. “We love Paris, we love Italy. That’s my two favorite countries.”

Times-Picayune columnist Jeff Duncan reported on X on Friday that there is movement toward the Saints playing in Italy in the near future, potentially in Milan or Rome.

The NFL announced in March it was expanding its Global Markets Program to Italy and awarded the Saints marketing rights in the country, alongside the Cleveland Browns.

Asked about her other sports franchise, Benson expressed excitement about the direction of the Pelicans under first-year head coach Jamahl Mosley.

“They’re doing great,” Benson said. “I’m so excited for Jamahl and [executive vice president of basketball operations] Joe Dumars. It’s just such a great time for the Pelicans.”

Since starting the season 0-4, the Pelicans are riding a three-game win streak after Monday’s overtime victory over the previously undefeated Memphis Grizzlies.

Benson’s remarks came at a charity event for people affected by the 2025 Bourbon Street New Year’s terrorist attack hosted by United Way.