Signs continue to point to Kellen Moore becoming the Saints’ next head coach. The parties have already interviewed twice, but another meeting is being arranged. 
Since the Eagles are set to play in the upcoming Super Bowl, their offensive coordinator cannot agree to the New Orleans gig at this time. After the big game, though, he and the Saints plan to meet once again, per Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Other candidates have been informed of this by general manager Mickey Loomis, per the report as well as Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
No final decision has been made, of course, but this latest update comes as no surprise. Moore was recently joined by former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy as a top candidate, but the latter has since withdrawn from consideration. That leaves Moore firmly in the lead for the lone remaining HC opportunity in the NFL. Darren Rizzi, who finished the 2024 campaign as the Saints’ interim head coach, looms as an alternative at this stage of the search process.
Throughout the early stages of the 2025 hiring cycle, it became clear many of the top candidates on the market were not enthused about taking charge of the Saints. Aaron Glenn represented an exception in that regard, although he wound up being hired by the Jets before his second New Orleans interview took place. Follow-up meetings have been held with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as well as Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, but they will need to wait more than one week to find out if Moore is officially hired.
Presuming that will take place when possible, the 35-year-old will begin his first NFL head coaching position in 2025. Shortly after his playing career ended, Moore worked with the Cowboys for five years (including four as OC). That was followed by a single campaign as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator and, for 2024, the same role with the Eagles. Philadelphia’s ground game has played a major role in the team’s success this year, and it could make him the latest staffer to parlay an Eagles OC gig into a first-time head coaching position.
The Saints’ roster is understandably not seen as one with a high ceiling as things stand, and the quarterback position is unsettled in the case of Derek Carr (especially beyond next year). New Orleans’ next head coach will have a say in shaping the team’ direction under center, and it continues to look as though that task will fall to Moore in the near future.
This is a done deal but on hold for now.
On one hand, this job is set up for failure. This team needs to be stripped to its core and rebuilt.
but ownership seems to understand that, so on the other hand, I expect Moore to have a long leash.
By that time, which will take several years, Saints will want to start over with a new HC when they are ready to reemerge. You wonder if this tenure on his resume will assist or impede Moore’s future prospects in the league.
Like “ownership seems to understand that”. I believe fanbase (they’ve seen it all over the years) and FO does as well. “Long leash” indeed plus new HC picks his guy at QB. Nice job opportunity for whomever gets it.
On one hand, I agree that you’re set up for failure taking this job. On the other hand, Moore’s been fired in each of the last two offseasons, so I would get why he’d jump at this opportunity. They’re fleeting.
“On the other hand, Moore’s been fired in each of the last two offseasons,”
I would argue unfairly. In four years in Dallas, he only finished worse than 6th in the league in points scored once, and that was the year Dak was injured and Andy Dalton, Garret Gilber, and Ben DiNucci started 11 games for them. And they still finished 17th . For the Chargers, they were scoring 23 points per game with Herbert starting (which would have ranked them 11th in the league) and only 14.2 in the 5 games that Easton Stick played the majority of snaps. Then the Chargers cleaned house for Harbaugh. Moore is back to having a top-tier offense with the Eagles.
But long-winded story short, I do agree that anyone should jump at the opportunity because you never know if you’ll get another one.
Mike McCarthy was the de facto OC in Dallas. I don’t give Kellen much credit for that. For what it’s worth I think this will be a bad hire. But we shall see. Teams need to stop hiring technicians and instead hire leaders.
For example: Jim Harbaugh – Leader. Mike McDaniel – Technician