We’ve got three more names to add to the growing list of Saints head coach candidates. The Saints have requested interviews with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport), Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver (via The Athletic’s Dianna Russini), and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka (via Josina Anderson).
[RELATED: Saints Request HC Interviews With Joe Brady, Aaron Glenn]
This request represents Moore’s first of the current hiring cycle. The veteran coach just completed his first regular season as Philly’s offensive coordinator, with the Eagles failing to improve on their 2023 offensive rankings (seventh in points, eighth in yards). Still, he helped guide Saquon Barkley to a historic season, and he was previously lauded for his offensive approach in stops with the Chargers and Cowboys.
Moore isn’t a stranger to the head coaching interview circuit. He’s earned interviews in each of the past three offseasons, including meetings with the Chargers (2024), Panthers (2023), Broncos, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Vikings (2022).
Weaver was a popular name during last year’s hiring cycle, with the defensive-minded coach earning interviews with the Falcons and Commanders. He ultimately landed in Miami as the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator. While the team’s defense struggled at times, Weaver still squeezed out a top-10 showing out of his unit, with the Dolphins ranking fourth in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed. The defensive coordinator also oversaw the development of some key defenders, including first-round edge rusher Chop Robinson.
A long-time defensive line coach, Weaver earned national attention following his three-year stint in Baltimore. He served as the Ravens defensive line coach/run game coordinator in 2021 before earning a promotion to assistant head coach in 2022. His current gig in Miami represented another promotion, so the next logical step of his coaching career would see him earning the head coach title. We learned earlier today that the Bears requested an interview with Weaver.
A former NFL journeyman, Kafka made a name for himself while coaching Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. He parlayed his performance as Chiefs QBs coach into an OC gig with the Giants, where he’s spent the past three years. Brian Daboll wrestled away play-calling responsibilities from his OC this past offseason, and there have been rumblings that Kafka could be ousted since the head coach will be sticking around.
Kafka’s potentially ugly ending in New York clearly hasn’t hurt his head coaching chances, as we learned earlier today that the Bears requested an interview with the coordinator. Kafka interviewed for both the Seahawks and Titans gigs last offseason, and he garnered interviews for all five head coaching vacancies in 2023.
This trio joins Joe Brady and Aaron Glenn, who the Saints requested interviews with earlier today. The team has also been connected to the likes of Mike Vrabel and Matt Nagy, while interim head coach Darren Rizzi is also expected to push for a promotion to the full-time gig.
The Saints are the only team on Madden where they have negative cap space! No thanks, especially when it comes to real football.
Eh, Moore is whatever IMO, but saying the Eagles offense isn’t better than last year isn’t really accurate.
All of this is my opinion, and I’m far from being 100% correct, but the younger, inexperienced coaches or even Rizzi are probably the type of coach the Saints are going to have to look at. I’ve been following the Saints since 1972, and they won’t pay top dollar, but Ms. Benson will be patient and generally stay out of the way and let the football people handle the football decisions. The next HC of the Saints is going to benefit from a last place schedule but had better be someone who can 1) walk the team thru a rebuild 2) understand that Loomis/front office has used some kind of voodoo economics in assembly of the roster and 3) be able to put together a staff that can develop players and make in-game adjustments and 4) be patient. I know there are only 32 NFL HC jobs, but this team is old, salary cap hamstrung, and the young players they do have haven’t been developed well enough to be give them proper depth. It’s not going to be a pretty situation.