Saints name Eagles OC Kellen Moore as new head coach
Kellen Moore has been appointed as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints in the NFL, a decision made on Tuesday, just two days following his role in leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl triumph as their offensive coordinator.
The Saints made this announcement amidst the ongoing celebrations in New Orleans, which were sparked by the Eagles' 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL championship game on Sunday.
"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," team owner Gayle Benson said in a statement.
"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."
He takes over from Dennis Allen, who was dismissed following a disappointing 2-7 start to a 5-12 season, which concluded under interim coach Darren Rizzi.
At 36 years of age, Moore will transition to a new role for the fourth consecutive year, marking his inaugural appointment as an NFL head coach.
Moore was part of the Dallas Cowboys' coaching staff from 2018 to 2022, where he held the position of offensive coordinator for the final four seasons. In 2023, he served as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Eagles for the previous season.
"I'm 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.
I am enthusiastic about facing the upcoming challenges and am keen to commence this journey. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Philadelphia Eagles for an outstanding 2024 season. I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter.
Moore's objective will be to rejuvenate a Saints team that has not qualified for the playoffs in the last four years and has only reached the NFC conference final once since their Super Bowl victory in 2010, which was a defeat against the Los Angeles Rams during the 2018 season.
"He is an outstanding communicator with the ability to lead people and has a clear vision for this football team," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.
The Eagles achieved impressive offensive statistics under Moore's leadership, placing them in the upper echelon of NFL teams in terms of scoring and yardage, largely due to the contributions of star quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley, who made history as only the ninth player to rush for over 2,000 yards in the NFL.
With his exit, the Eagles will enter the 2025 season with their fourth distinct offensive coordinator in as many years when the campaign commences in September.
Moore had a three-season tenure as a quarterback with both the Detroit Lions and the Cowboys.
SportsLigue