NEW ORLEANS — Kellen Moore, who recently directed the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense to a Super Bowl championship, has reached an agreement to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
At just 36 years old, Moore steps into a challenging role as the Saints have struggled since the retirement of beloved quarterback Drew Brees and the exit of Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton.
The Saints have not appeared in the playoffs since the 2020 season, which also marked Brees’ final year in the NFL. Moore’s candidacy gained momentum as the franchise took more time than any other NFL team this offseason in deciding on a new head coach.
Moore was unique among assistant coaches who were part of the Super Bowl, being the only one interviewed by New Orleans. Due to league regulations, he could only be hired after the championship game had concluded. The Saints officially announced their agreement with him on Tuesday.
This hiring trend mirrors a movement among several successful NFL teams, which have tapped into younger offensive minds. This list includes Sean McVay of the Rams, Matt LaFleur of the Packers, Mike McDaniel of the Dolphins, and Kevin O’Connell of the Vikings—each of whom found success in their 30s.
In a statement released by the team, Moore expressed enthusiasm for the challenges ahead, saying, “I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead and am eager to get started.” His formal introduction as head coach is expected Thursday.
Moore was a standout quarterback during his college years at Boise State and spent the following years on the fringes of the NFL as a practice squad and backup QB with the Detroit Lions from 2012-2014 and the Dallas Cowboys from 2015-2017, participating in just three regular-season games.
He transitioned into coaching in 2018, first as a quarterbacks coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. After a stint with the Dallas Cowboys, he moved to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 before joining the Eagles for the 2024 season.
Early in his coaching career, Moore leaned toward a pass-heavy offensive strategy, but he adapted remarkably upon joining the Eagles. Acknowledging Philadelphia’s strengths as a running team—characterized by a robust offensive line, star running back Saquon Barkley, and agile quarterback Jalen Hurts—Moore notably led the team to the NFL’s second-best rushing performance in 2024.
Under his direction, the Eagles achieved a franchise-record 3,048 rushing yards for the season, with Barkley responsible for 2,005 of those yards, alongside an impressive performance in the playoffs. When the Kansas City Chiefs managed to hold Barkley to just 57 yards in the Super Bowl, Moore countered with strategic passing plays that resulted in touchdown receptions of 46 and 12 yards from DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown respectively.
As he takes on the Saints’ offense, Moore will look to utilize the talents of versatile running back Alvin Kamara and promising receiver Chris Olave. During his time in New Orleans for the Super Bowl last week, Moore highlighted his philosophy in utilizing players’ strengths in his offensive strategy.
“You have certain things that you have strong feelings about from a coaching perspective—certain philosophies—but I think it’s important to do what your players do best,” Moore explained. “Moving from Dallas to LA to Philadelphia, we’ve certainly approached different styles, and it’s exciting when you can customize it with your team.”
The future of Saints quarterback Derek Carr remains uncertain, especially with two years remaining on his contract following two seasons that did not result in playoff appearances.
Moore will become the Saints’ second head coach in the post-Payton era, who briefly retired after the 2021 season. That year, New Orleans finished with a 9-7 record, narrowly missing the playoffs, which has now led to four consecutive seasons without postseason participation.
Dennis Allen, the former defensive coordinator under Payton, took over in 2021 but accumulated a disappointing 18-25 record over 2.5 seasons, resulting in his dismissal after a seven-game losing streak. Following Allen, special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi briefly served as interim head coach, tallying a 3-5 record before expressing interest in remaining with the Saints and interviewing for the full-time position.
In addition to interviewing Rizzi, New Orleans also considered candidates like Anthony Weaver from the Dolphins, Mike Kafka from the Giants, Aaron Glenn from the Lions, and Joe Brady from the Bills. Although highly-regarded former coaches Mike McCarthy and Sean Payton’s successor withdrew from the candidacy, Moore ultimately emerged as the choice to lead the team moving forward.
