JANUARY 29: Moore is indeed viewed as a lead candidate for this job, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. With McCarthy, Brady and Kingsbury out of the running, the Saints are running short on names to fill the NFL’s last remaining HC vacancy. The team cannot officially hire Moore until after Super Bowl LIX, but unofficial agreements — like the 49ers’ 2017 deal with Kyle Shanahan and the Colts’ eventually broken pledge with Josh McDaniels in 2018 — are often reached with Super Bowl-bound coordinators before those games.
The 2023 offseason also showed teams have been willing to wait on Eagles assistants until after a Super Bowl. The Cardinals and Colts respectively waited out that Eagles-Chiefs matchup, respectively hiring Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen. Moore met with the Saints in-person Monday night. Were the Philly OC to take this job, it would be his fourth in four years. Moore has bounced from play-calling gigs in Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia from 2022-24.
JANUARY 28: After appearing to lose ground in recent days, Mike McCarthy has decided to withdraw from consideration for the Saints’ head coaching job and will not coach in the NFL in 2025, according to Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
McCarthy became a free agent late in the hiring cycle after failing to reach a new contract with the Cowboys. He was considered one of the frontrunners for the gig in New Orleans, especially after Aaron Glenn agreed to join the Jets. Instead, McCarthy will look ahead to the 2026 hiring cycle where he will rely on his history of regular-season success to attract job offers.
[RELATED: Kliff Kingsbury Will Not Meet With Saints]
Surprisingly, McCarthy never spoke with the Saints about the job despite their reported interest. The two sides intended to meet this week, but those plans were scuttled by McCarthy’s withdrawal, per Underhill. His hesitation could be a result of New Orleans’ pursuit of Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
With Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady also backing out of consideration last week, Moore appears to be the clear frontrunner to be the next head coach in New Orleans. He interviewed with the team in person on Monday, and his Eagles will take over the Saints’ facility for their Super Bowl preparation next week.
Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver are also considered finalists for the job after going through second interviews last week. Here is a full list of the Saints’ candidates:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Hope to schedule second interview; remaining with Bills
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): To conduct second interview; hired by Jets
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (Commanders): To stay with Commanders
- Mike McCarthy, head coach (Cowboys): Withdrew from consideration
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Conducted second interview 1/27
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
- Darren Rizzi, interim head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Interview being arranged; hired by Patriots
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Conducted second interview 1/24
Kellen Moore will be the Saints new Coach.
He’s probably the best of what is left on that list.
Why because he has taken the loaded Eagles offense to the Super Bowl?
I fear the Saints cap and QB situation will doom him to two miserable years and a stalled career. Some opportunities are best left to a desperate candidate.
If he does hope they realize and give him time, but in this win now NFL i doubt it. Taking this job right now seems like showing up to a gunfight with a knife
Better to withdraw from HC consideration than to not be chosen. Read he really tanked his Saints interview.
Apparently there was no interview. A year away won’t hurt him. He can probably do some broadcasting during that time.
They never talked..it is in the article
I thought McCarthy was to be the new HC of the Bears.
Bears got a good cach in Johnson.
I read somewhere the GM was opposed to letting the new HC choose his own staff. I guess they didn’t want to pay for the current staff and a new one. If true, that’s cheap.
Loomis has said new coach will get to pick staff….but you never know
Translation = no one will hire me.
Perhaps McCarthy can be Aaron Rodgers’…I mean…Glenn’s new OC with the Jets now?