Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matthew Hinton
Kellen Moore has made a name for himself as a creative play-caller, but now he faces a new challenge—leading an entire team. The New Orleans Saints officially introduced Moore as their new head coach on Thursday, marking the 36-year-old’s first head coaching job at any level.
Eagles Players Praise Moore’s Coaching Ability
Before Moore’s hiring, Philadelphia Eagles players spoke highly of their former offensive coordinator. Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata described him as an “offensive wizard” and a coach who understands how to set up plays effectively.
“Kellen’s a little wizard,” Mailata joked before the Super Bowl. “‘He’s a little wizard Harry.’ And I think his style of play and the way he calls plays, setting up other plays, has been crucial to this year.”
The Saints believe Moore’s offensive expertise and leadership skills will translate to success. Saints owner Gayle Benson emphasized those qualities when discussing the hire.
“I believe that is exactly what we have in Moore. He has been a winner at every stage of his career, both as a player and a coach,” Benson said. “As we saw this past weekend in our very own Caesars Superdome, Kellen led a creative and innovative offense in winning Super Bowl LIX.”
Moore Steps into Leadership Role
Moore now takes over a Saints team in transition. At 36, he will be the youngest head coach in the NFL for the 2025 season. He replaces Darren Rizzi, who served as interim head coach after Dennis Allen was fired in November.
Moore spent the 2024 season as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, helping the team finish seventh in scoring offense with 27.2 points per game. Under his guidance, running back Saquon Barkley led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards.
Despite his success as a play-caller, leading an entire team presents a new challenge. Moore believes he is ready.
“Everyone likes to say it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. That’s a famous book. Certainly, I felt like being around it for a long time led me into the opportunities that I’ve been presented,” Moore said. “I’ve been preparing for this my entire life, I feel ready.”
A Different Coaching Style
Moore’s coaching style will differ from past Saints head coaches. Sean Payton was known for his intensity, while Rizzi connected with players through his relatable approach. Moore, according to Eagles players, takes a more measured and thoughtful approach.
Mailata initially called Moore “mild-mannered” but later compared him to Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, saying they were complete opposites. However, he pointed out that players respect Moore because he values their input.
“I think when you have that kind of relationship with the offensive coordinator, you go the extra mile for them,” Mailata said. “So I think he’s definitely got the ability to become a great coach.”
Eagles tight end C.J. Uzomah said Moore keeps things light with his personality and humor.
“Kellen’s like a goofy dad-joke guy. You know what I’m saying? When he puts in some jokes, it’s definitely some dad jokes that I’m like, ah, it’s kind of funny. It’s kind of quirky,” Uzomah said. “But he’s great. He is unbelievably smart. … He knows ball like crazy and hearing him talk about certain plays and certain schemes and certain games, we’re like, ‘Damn, we know this is going to work.’ So yeah, it’s awesome. He’s a great coach and a great human.”
Offensive tackle Lane Johnson added that while Moore may not be the loudest coach, his knowledge of the game commands respect.
“What matters to me is whenever he gets on the board and talks to us and you really see what type of genius he is,” Johnson said. “So those actions speak louder than words, but he’s able to command a room and he’s a fun personality. … There’s a lot of depth to him and he lets, I guess, few people see it, but he takes up a room when he gets under there and is able to be a genius. So that’s how I see it.”
A Fast Rise in Coaching
Moore’s rapid ascent in coaching has been fueled by his quarterback background. After playing at Boise State, he had a brief NFL career with the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
In 2018, Moore transitioned from playing to coaching, joining the Cowboys as quarterbacks coach. A year later, he became offensive coordinator, a position he held through 2022 before moving to the Los Angeles Chargers and then the Eagles.
“I was fortunate to be able to transition quickly from playing right into coaching in Dallas, [which] allowed me to go through that process rather quickly,” Moore said. “… I think a lot of guys in this league, they’ve gone through this journey. A lot of quarterbacks have become coaches and there’s probably a reason for it.”
Jason Witten, Moore’s former Cowboys teammate, saw his leadership potential early.
“The stage was never too big for him,” Witten said. “You could see it early on as a backup and then even when he became a quarterback coach and then the offensive coordinator.”
Challenges Ahead in New Orleans
Moore takes over a Saints team that finished 7-10 in 2024. He faces key decisions, including assembling his coaching staff, evaluating the roster, and preparing for free agency, which begins March 12.
One of his biggest tasks will be determining the future of quarterback Derek Carr. While Moore didn’t commit to a decision, he praised Carr’s ability.
“I think Derek is a tremendous starting quarterback,” Moore said.
Before officially starting with the Saints, Moore planned to celebrate with his former team at the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade. Then, it’s back to work.
Moore understands the challenge ahead, but he plans to approach it his way—by staying authentic and consistent.
“I think everyone respects authenticity. Being yourself. We understand that there’s challenges associated with this job,” Moore said. “It is a leadership job first and foremost and it’s very, very important. You are going to have to lead in a lot of different ways. You’re going to have to challenge people, you’re going to have to trust people. You’re going to have to put people in challenging situations, so we’re going to go through that.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
