Kellen Moore is about halfway through his first season as a head coach in the National Football League. Under his tutelage, the New Orleans Saints have shown signs of progress, but not without some warning signs as well.
All through the offseason and since the start of the season, players and staff on the Saints have been bought in on Moore. Just look at the way wide receiver Chris Olave talks about him on the Up and Adams show back in August. "He's a player coach. We have a good relationship going. I feel like we're on a first-name basis."
Moore has also shown that he knows how to draft players into the NFL. He took what some considered a gamble, taking Tyler Shough with the 40th pick in the 2025 draft; however, he has been proven right in that regard. Shough, while he's only started two games this season, has shown that he can be Kellen's guy. Furthermore, with 586 passing yards and three touchdowns on 51 completions, Shough is playing well enough that the team might not even have to draft another guy next year.
Under Kellen Moore, the New Orleans Saints are fun to watch again
Kellen Moore has made the Saints a fun football team again in his short time in New Orleans, despite what the 2-8 record might imply. Even through the losses, the black and gold have been an enjoyable watch, though that might not have seemed like the case at the start as the team kept shooting themselves in the foot with penalties.
The penalties are another thing that's gotten better in the Kellen Moore era. Week one got off to a rough start, with 13 penalties committed. However, by the time the next game against the San Francisco 49ers was said and done, the number of penalties was cut in half. It jumped back up to the double digits in week three but has stayed low since, with the team not reaching the double digits in penalties committed since.
Notwithstanding the signs of progress, though, is the fact that he has left points on the board. Whether it be not driving down the field before halftime, punting on fourth and short when the momentum is in your favor, or kicking a field goal in instances where he probably should have gone for it, there are times when Moore hasn't been as aggressive as he needs to be.
Kellen Moore is the youngest head coach in the league in his first year at the job; growing pains are sure to be expected. But in his short time with the team, he's made the Saints feel like the Saints again. Finally.