Kellen Moore, who oversaw the Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles’ offense this season, has agreed to return to the location of his newest triumph as the following coach of the New Orleans Saints.
The 36-year-old Moore will be a part of a corporation that has been floundering because the retirement of quarterback Drew Brees and departure of Tremendous Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton. The Saints haven’t made the playoffs because the 2020 season – the final of Brees’ profession.
Their curiosity in Moore grew to become more and more evident because the membership waited longer to fill its emptiness than another NFL crew in search of a brand new coach this 12 months.
Moore was the one assistant coach on both Tremendous Bowl crew to be interviewed by New Orleans and thus the one candidate who, below league guidelines, couldn’t be employed till after Sunday’s title sport was performed. The Saints introduced their settlement with Moore on Tuesday.
Their resolution mirrors that of a number of groups which have discovered success after hiring comparatively younger offensive coaches. They included the Los Angeles Rams with Sean McVay, Inexperienced Bay with Matt LaFleur, Miami with Mike McDaniel and Minnesota with 2024 AP Coach of the 12 months Kevin O’Connell. All 4 of these coaches have been employed whereas of their 30s.
“I sit up for embracing the challenges forward and am wanting to get began,” Moore, whose formal introduction is scheduled for Thursday, stated in an announcement launched by the membership.
A standout faculty quarterback at Boise State, Moore had a six-year profession as a observe squad or reserve QB with Detroit (2012-2014) and Dallas (2015-2017). He performed in simply three regular-season video games, all with the Cowboys in 2015.
He moved into teaching in 2018 as a quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. He left Dallas to affix the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 earlier than transferring to Philadelphia in 2024.
Whereas Moore tended to favor pass-heavy schemes in his early years as a coordinator, he tailored when he joined the Eagles.
Recognizing Philadelphia’s energy as a operating crew – with its massive, bodily offensive line, star operating again Saquon Barkley and cellular quarterback Jalen Hurts – Moore oversaw the NFL’s second-ranked floor sport in 2024.
The Eagles rushed for a franchise-record 3,048 yards, with Barkley gaining 2,005 of that earlier than including a further 499 yards in 4 playoff video games. And when the Chiefs restricted Barkley to 57 yards speeding within the Tremendous Bowl, Moore responded with well-timed passing performs that included touchdowns of 46 yards to DeVonta Smith and 12 yards to AJ Brown.
Moore takes over an offense that includes versatile operating again Alvin Kamara and receiver Chris Olave.
Whereas in New Orleans for the Tremendous Bowl this previous week, Moore mentioned how he tries characteristic the strengths of accessible personnel in his play-calling.
“You’ve sure issues that you’ve robust emotions about from a training perspective – sure philosophies – however I feel it’s essential to do what your gamers do finest,” Moore stated. “Going from Dallas to LA to Philadelphia, we’ve actually performed three totally different kinds, and it’s enjoyable while you crew up with folks simply constructing it nevertheless we wish to.”
Saints quarterback Derek Carr has two years left on his contract, however his future with the Saints is cloudy following a pair of non-playoff seasons with the membership.
Moore will turn into the Saints’ second head coach since Payton briefly retired following the 2021 season, throughout which New Orleans went 9-8 and narrowly missed the playoffs.
That was the primary of what’s now 4 straight seasons with no playoff berth.
Payton’s former defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, took over in 2021, solely to go 18-25 throughout two and a half seasons earlier than being fired following a seven-game skid.
Darren Rizzi, who was a particular groups coordinator below each Payton and Allen, took over on an interim foundation and went 3-5.
He needed to stay with the Saints and interviewed for the full-time job after this season. New Orleans additionally interviewed Miami Dolphins coordinator Anthony Weaver, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Former Dallas and Inexperienced Bay coach Mike McCarthy additionally was anticipated to interview with New Orleans, however withdrew his candidacy on Jan. 28, simply days after Brady withdrew.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has misplaced a key assistant from his workers for the second time after the crew reached the Tremendous Bowl.
Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left after the 2022 season when he was named head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. He’s 12-22 in two seasons with Arizona.
Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen left in the identical time interval when he was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. He’s 17-17 in two seasons.
