Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore Emerges as Saints Head Coaching Candidate…
Following a 2-7 start to the season, the Saints have dismissed head coach Dennis Allen. The team has now sought permission from the Eagles to interview their offensive coordinator and play caller, Kellen Moore, for the vacant head coaching role.
The development was initially reported on Monday afternoon by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.
Moore succeeded Brian Johnson as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator after Johnson’s one-year tenure, which followed Shane Steichen’s departure to coach the Colts after the 2022 season. Under Moore’s leadership, the Eagles ranked eighth in the NFL for total offense (367 yards per game), seventh in scoring (27.1 points per game), second in rushing (179 yards per game), and first in time of possession (32:23). The team also matched a franchise record with 14 wins and will face the Packers in the wild-card round on Sunday.
Per NFL regulations, assistant coaches from wild-card round teams cannot interview for head coaching positions until three days after their game. For Moore, this means he would be eligible to interview a week from Wednesday.
Moore, who retired as an NFL player in 2017, began his coaching career with the Cowboys, progressing from quarterbacks coach in 2018 to offensive coordinator by 2019, a role he held until 2022. He served as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator last year before joining the Eagles’ staff under Nick Sirianni. His offenses have consistently ranked in the top 10 in scoring in four of his six seasons as an offensive coordinator.
Moore has been a recurring name in head coaching discussions, having interviewed with the Vikings after the 2021 season and the Chargers last offseason. NFL Network’s Jane Slater also reported that the Saints plan to interview David Shaw, Broncos senior personnel executive and former Stanford coach.
Should the Eagles lose Moore, it would mark Jalen Hurts’ fifth play caller in six NFL seasons. Potential internal replacements include quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, running backs coach Jemal Singleton, and assistant head coach Kevin Patullo.
Moore’s offensive strategies have notably enhanced Hurts’ performance, as evidenced by his 114.0 passer rating—the third-highest in the league since Week 5—with 14 touchdowns and one interception. This marks the second-highest passer rating over an 11-game span in Eagles history, following Nick Foles’ 2013 record.
Hurts praised Moore’s innovative coaching approach, emphasizing its positive impact on the team’s offensive versatility.
The Saints, under interim coach Dennis Rizzi, improved to a 3-5 record after Allen’s departure. Rizzi is also considered a candidate for the permanent head coaching position. This marks the fourth consecutive season the Saints have missed the playoffs, a streak not seen since 2001-2005.
