Kellen Moore hired as Saints’ new main coach

On February 12, 2025By Littum

Kellen Moore has been hired as the new head coach of New Orleans Saints, the team announced on Tuesday.

Moore, 36, takes over a Saints team that ended 5-12 last season and ended up in the last place in NFC South. Head coach Dennis Allen was fired after nine games, and his replacement, Darren Rizzi, went 3-5 on a temporary basis.

“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,” said owner Gayle Benson. “Through the search process it became clear that Kellen is the right person to help us restore a winning program and culture that our fans are used to and have come to expect. I would also like to thank Darren Rizzi for his service as Interim trainer and lead our team this last season.

As his last act as offensive coordinator of Philadelphia Eagles, Moore helped them victory over Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl Lix on Sunday.

New Orleans, Louisiana - February 3: Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator of Philadelphia Eagles, looks at under the Super Bowl Lix opening evening at Caesar's Superdome on February 3rd 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) — Kellen Moore enjoyed some of the Super Bowl ramp light on Monday during the opening night with the media. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

After a six-season NFL play career with Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys, Moore entered the coaching ranks that began as a quarterback coach and then took over as offensive coordinator with cowboys from 2019-2022. After separating ways with Dallas, he took over Los Angeles Chargers’ violation as part of Brandon Staley’s staff, but was only one season before he was hired by Philadelphia Eagles in the same position.

The saints were the last NFL team that remained with a head coaching vacancy. General Manager Mickey Loomis threw a broad net in a search for a new head coach. He spoke with Rizzi, Moore, Aaron Glenn, Joe Brady and Anthony Weaver, among others. Mike McCarthy was also a candidate, but he allegedly withdrew from the race and will enter the coaching market for 2026.

The saints have not made the playoffs since 2020, the end of their four -year race as the NFC South Champions.

Moore will have to fight with uncertainty at quarterback with veteran derek carr and a league-worst payroll projection there, According to Spotrac.comis over $ 51 million.

In an analysis of Moore’s candidacy for Cowboys ‘main coach job, who eventually went to Brian Schottenheimer, Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein wrote last month:

At least nine teams spanning six of the league’s eight departments have been sought interviews with Moore since he rose to the coordinator level, per year. Team’s social media posts at the time and recent reports.

The view he left in interviews?

“Super impressive,” a director who interviewed Moore told a previous opening to Yahoo Sports. “We all left and said he will be a head coach one day. Incredibly smart and was just very organized with his thoughts. “

Moore’s resume has continued to trend against promotion, his experience grows as he approaches his 36 -year birthday. Schematically, the son beats a long -time high school coach who created Playbooks as a child, people who are ready to navigate the main coach’s balance between game management and play call responsibility.

Interpersonally praised the performer who interviewed Moore how easy he was to talk to and how he made a point to keep in touch with Team Brass after their first meetings. Moore is available and has received praise from players for his susceptibility to their ideas and creative wrinkles.

Brandon Staley, who was an assistant at San Francisco 49ers last season is a candidate to be Saints’ offensive coordinator, According to Espns Adam Schafter. Staley ran Los Angeles Rams’ defense in the 2020 season before taking over as Los Angeles Charger’s main coach through 2023.