Kellen Moore

This was expected to be the case, but Moore confirmed it at his introductory press conference on Thursday. The first-time head coach made a name for himself as an offensive play-caller and is fresh off leading the Eagles’ offense to 33 points in the team’s Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. Moore and the Eagles leaned heavily into the ground game last season, but during his 2023 campaign with the Chargers and his four-year run with the Cowboys (2019-2022), his offenses were ranked in the top-15 in early-down pass rate. How Moore decides to run his offense with the Saints could depend on how their off-season goes. While Alvin Kamara isn’t getting any younger, it’s hard to imagine any coach trusting Derek Carr to lead a high-volume passing attack.

Two days after Moore and the Eagles dominated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Moore, 36, gets his first crack at a head coaching gig. The Eagles reportedly expected Moore to be a short-term OC, especially if he had immediate success with Jalen Hurts and the Philly offense. He did just that in 2024: The Eagles were eighth in total yards and seventh in points, ranking sixth in EPA per play and first in rush EPA thanks to Saquon Barkley’s massive campaign. In New Orleans, Moore will have to figure out how to make it work with Derek Carr at the helm and an aging Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Moore’s ability to manipulate defenses and create space for his playmakers will be put to the test in 2025 and beyond.

This comment came shortly after the team’s Super Bowl LIX victory over the Chiefs, when Lurie was asked if he expects the team to lose Moore to the Saints this week. Lurie simply responded with “I do” before proceeding to praise the coordinator who was fresh off leading the Eagles to their second championship in eight seasons. The ink has long felt dry on Moore’s contract with the Saints, even though nothing has been made official yet. We’d expect the official word to come down any day now, but Lurie’s recent comments are about as definite as it gets.

The NFL’s worst kept secret keeps inching closer to becoming official. Moore’s hiring would be the Saints’ first leap outside the Sean Payton coaching tree in two decades, and would follow on the heels of an excellent “bounce-back campaign” for Moore after a trying 2023 with the Chargers. A methodical coaching riser who has overseen strong offenses most everywhere he’s been, Moore would address the Saints’ desperate need for fresh ideas when it comes to scoring points.