Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore just won a Super Bowl in New Orleans, and he can stay there.
The New Orleans Saints announced the hiring of Moore as head coach on Tuesday. New Orleans previously fired Dennis Allen after nine games, and Darren Rizzi served as the interim head coach the rest of the way in a 5–12 season.
“At the start of the interview process, it was important to find a head coach who was the right fit for the New Orleans Saints organization,” Saints owner Gayle Benson said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Through the search process, it became clear that Kellen is the right person to help us re-establish a winning program and culture that our fans are accustomed to and have come to expect,” Benson continued. “I would also like to thank Darren Rizzi for his service as interim coach and leading our team this past season. I am truly grateful to him.”
New Orleans hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2020 season, Sean Payton’s final year as head coach and Drew Brees’s final season at quarterback. The Saints also haven’t won more than nine games in a season since that time amid a revolving door at quarterback, but the team could have Derek Carr coming back for a third season with the team this year.
Moore, a former NFL quarterback, has been successful as an offensive coordinator with the Eagles and previously the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 and the Dallas Cowboys from 2019 to 2022. He has worked with quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Justin Herbert in that span.
“I am excited to join the New Orleans Saints and deeply appreciate the faith that Mrs. Benson and the entire Saints organization have placed in me,” Moore said in a statement. “I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead and am eager to get started.”
Moore is fresh off coordinating one of the most dominant offensive performances in Super Bowl history. The Eagles built a 34–0 lead with an MVP performance by Hurts, who had 221 yards passing for two touchdowns plus 72 yards rushing and a touchdown.
“I would also like to thank the Philadelphia Eagles for an incredible 2024 season. I’m excited to begin this new chapter,” Moore said in a statement on Tuesday.
A Washington native, Moore played quarterback at Boise State from 2007 to 2011 before his NFL career, which began as an undrafted free agent. He played for the Detroit Lions from 2012 to 2014 as a backup to Matthew Stafford, followed by a stint with the Cowboys from 2015 to 2017 where he played behind Matt Cassel, Tony Romo, and Prescott. Moore stayed in Dallas as the quarterbacks coach in 2018 before the move up to offensive coordinator.
Moore will look to bring back offensive explosiveness to New Orleans, which hasn’t seen that since the Brees days. Carr has a track record of success with four Pro Bowl appearances, but there’s already speculation about his future after an injury-riddled 2024 season. He has two years left on a four-year, $150 million deal that brought him to the Bayou. The Saints also have talented skill players such as wide receiver Chris Olave and running back Alvin Kamara.
Moore’s track record could bode well for a turnaround in New Orleans. He had four teams rank in the top eight for points scored and total yardage in his six years as an offensive coordinator.
Defensively, the Saints have been solid for years, but the team took a dip in 2024 with the franchise’s highest total of points allowed, 398, since 2016. The Saints still have star power on defense such as defensive end Cameron Jordan and free safety Tyrann Mathieu.
