Kellen Moore is starting to fill out his Saints staff, but the process may not be as smooth as the new head coach was hoping for. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger has denied a request from the Saints to interview for their offensive coordinator job.
[RELATED: Saints Name Kellen Moore As HC]
After working his way up through the college coaching ranks, Koger got his first NFL gig when he was named as the Packers offensive quality control coach in 2019. He joined the Chargers as their tight ends coach in 2021, with Gerald Everett having his best career seasons under Koger’s tutelage.
After the Chargers cleaned house last offseason, Koger joined the Falcons coaching staff, where he was tasked with getting the most from Kyle Pitts. The tight end still failed to live up to his first-round billing, finishing with 47 catches for 602 yards. Still, his 63.5 catch percentage represented a career-high.
While Koger’s list of accomplishments may not feature big names nor performance, he’s still earned a reputation as a bright offensive mind. Just this offseason, the coach interviewed for the Browns and Cowboys OC jobs.
Considering Moore wasn’t officially hired until after the Super Bowl, the Saints missed out on most of the top coordinator candidates. While Koger’s denial may not be indicative of other candidates’ sentiments about the New Orleans gig, Moore and the Saints may have to overcome a few hurdles as they look to piece together the coaching staff.
Koger is the first definitive candidate for the job in New Orleans. A pair of Eagles coaches have naturally been connected to their former boss, with QBs coach Doug Nussmeier and pass-game coordinator Kevin Patullo mentioned as candidates for the job.
Can’t blame him for choosing continuity. The Saints cap and GM situation has to be of concern for an aspiring coach.
Moore will call the plays as well. Good pass by him
I’m a bit confused. How does denying another team thought highly of your abilities (and was interested in interviewing you) work to your benefit? Not sure I’d want to hire someone who can’t distinguish between a compliment and an insult.
Because unlike the majority of OC opportunities, the New Orleans OC opportunity comes with the title but not the “fun”, IE playcalling. It’s basically a glamorized position coach.
Also it’s also conceivable that Moore, having gotten a late start on building a staff, is having a hard time adhering to the Rooney rules requiring in-house interview of candidates from outside the team.
It doesn’t appear that Koger has a preexisting relationship with Moore, so maybe he felt the request was more for show/Rooney than legitimate–not to mention that distrupting their rival Falcons by getting the interview is absolutely a thing NO brass would do lol
Why not just say “I appreciate the interest from the organization but I’m content with my current job”. Acting like your too good to take an interview might give other people the impression that you’re a prima donna. That could limit your future opportunities.