It's official, Kellen Moore is the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. This isn’t just another coaching hire, it’s a bold shift in philosophy for the franchise. It’s an attempt to modernize an offense, and team, that has struggled to find its identity in the post-Drew Brees era.
Moore, just 36 years old, comes with a reputation as one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. Now as the youngest coach in the league it’s time for him to lead his own team. Let’s break down who Moore is, how he got here, and most importantly, how he can fix the Saints.
Kellen Moore the player: A college football legend
Before Kellen Moore was drawing up and calling plays, he was making them himself. Moore, a lefty quarterback, was the architect of Boise State’s dominance, leading the Broncos to a 50-3 career record, the most wins by a starting QB in FBS history at the time. He was the definition of a football leader: precise, methodical, and always one step ahead of the defense.
Despite his legendary college career, Moore’s NFL journey was much different. Scouts knocked him for his size (6’0”) and lack of arm strength. He went undrafted in 2012 NFL Draft, signing with the Detroit Lions, and later backing up Dak Prescott for the Dallas Cowboys before retiring in 2017. Moore never had the measurables to be an elite NFL quarterback, but what he did have was a brilliant football mind—and the Cowboys quickly saw that.
Kellen Moore the coach: A quick rise
Kellen Moore’s transition from player to coach was literally instant. Moore retired from the NFL in 2017, and the Cowboys hired him as their quarterbacks coach in 2018. Within a year, he was calling plays as the offensive coordinator at just 30 years old under Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. The results? Immediate fireworks.
- In his first season as OC in 2019, the Cowboys led the NFL in total offense (431.5 YPG), 2nd in passing (296.9), and 5th in rushing (134.6).
- He helped Dak Prescott develop into a top-tier franchise QB.
Moore’s offense was fast, creative, and unpredictable— a refreshing contrast to the stagnant, old-school systems that often bogged down teams. In 2020, the Cowboys hired a new head coach Mike McCarthy, and Kellen Moore was kept. It’s very rare an offensive head coach is brought in and they keep the previous offensive coordinator, but that spoke voulmes to what Kellen Moore was capable of.
After four seasons in Dallas, he moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, where he was expected to elevate Justin Herbert. But injuries, a questionable roster, and defensive struggles led to a disappointing season and ultimately, Moore’s exit.
When the Philadelphia Eagles hired Moore as their offensive coordinator ahead of the 2024 season, there were doubts. Could he adapt his system to Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat abilities? Could he work under Nick Sirianni and mesh with an already talented offense that was coming off their worse season under Sirianni? Will a pass-first playcaller be able to adapt to one of the best running backs in the NFL to make sure he gets touches.? The answer was yes, across the board.
Under Moore’s guidance, the Eagles’ offense became one of the most balanced and dangerous units in the NFL. He maximized Jalen Hurts' unique skill set, seamlessly blending RPO-heavy concepts with an explosive deep passing attack, making the Eagles a nightmare for defenses. But while many expected Moore to lean heavily on the passing game, it was clear who the true focal point of the offense was—Saquon Barkley. The superstar running back led the league in rushing with 2,005 yards, coming dangerously close to breaking Eric Dickerson’s 40-year-old single-season rushing record.
So much for the narrative that a "pass-first coach" might struggle to feed a top-tier running back. Moore proved he could adapt his system to elite talent, creating a balanced attack that kept defenses guessing all season long. Not just Saquon had a good year, though.
- Jalen Hurts had followed up having the most interceptions thrown in his career in 2023 to the least of his career as a starter in 2024 under Moore.
- A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith became arguably the most dominant WR duo in the league.
- Red zone efficiency and time of possession elavated, with Moore’s play-calling leading to more scoring opportunities and control over the game.
The end result? A dominant playoff run capped off by a Super Bowl victory. Moore proved that he wasn’t just a young, flashy offensive mind he was a championship caliber play-caller and coach capable of adapting to different personnel and maximizing talent. That success lead to this hire and taking on his biggest challenge yet—reviving the New Orleans Saints. Now, he has a fresh start. A new challenge. And the Saints are hoping he can bring his offensive brilliance to their organization.
How can Kellen Moore fix the Saints?
If we're being real, the Saints have been stuck in the mud since Drew Brees retired. The offense has lacked identity, consistency, and creativity. Dennis Allen’s unsuccessful tenure consisted of a defense that lost its identity and underwhelming QB play. That’s where Moore comes in. His hiring signals a clear shift toward an offensive-first philosophy, something Saints fans have been needing since the glory days of Brees and Sean Payton.
Fixing the quarterback problem
The biggest question for Moore will be: Who’s the quarterback?
- Derek Carr is the current starter, but is he the right fit for Moore’s system?
- Do the Saints draft another QB and let Moore develop him?
- Could we see a high-upside free agent or trade option?
Moore has worked with pocket passers (Prescott), gunslingers (Herbert), and do whatever's needed players (Hurts) so he knows how to adapt. But his offense thrives when the QB is accurate, decisive, and willing to push the ball downfield with a good run game. The Saints need to decide if Derek Carr is that guy or if it’s time to start fresh.
Unlocking playmakers like Chris Olave and hiring a strong coaching staff
The Saints have talent on offense, but they haven’t maximized it. Chris Olave is a budding star, but he needs a more explosive offensive system to fully showcase his ability. Moore’s concepts and tempo-based attack should open things up for Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Alvin Kamara and other playmakers on the team. Expect the deep passing game to be a bigger focus.
Kellen Moore may be a risk but once again, the Saints offer stability. Even though he’s a risk he's a calculated one. The Saints could have gone with a safe hire. Instead, they chose a young, offensive mind who could transform the franchise.
His success will depend on three key things:
- Getting the quarterback position right.
- Building a strong coaching staff around him.
- Bringing the swagger back to the Saints’ offense.
If Moore delivers, New Orleans will finally return to contender status. One thing’s for sure—this is the most exciting Saints’ hire in years. Buckle up, Who Dat Nation; the Kellen Moore era has begun.