NEW ORLEANS – With Kellen Moore set to interview for the New Orleans Saints head coaching position after Super Bowl LIX, the upcoming game might be his last as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator.
The topic has been widely discussed in New Orleans throughout the week. By the time the Super Bowl LIX champions—either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Eagles—begin celebrating their victory, Moore could already be negotiating to stay in the city where he just spent a crucial week.
Some Eagles players are doing their best to avoid thinking about this possibility. Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata humorously tried to deter the Saints from hiring Moore during a media session on Tuesday.
"I was about to say, 'Kellen Moore is a terrible coach,'" Mailata joked. "You guys shouldn’t take him. He’s just awful."
Then, with a more serious tone, Mailata praised Moore’s leadership, play-calling, and ability to connect with players.
"He’s always prepared. The way he leads, strategizes, and builds relationships with players is special. When a coach truly listens and values your input, you’re willing to go the extra mile for him. He’s definitely head coach material, but trust me, you guys don’t want him."
Tight end Dallas Goedert took a more composed approach when asked about Moore’s potential departure.
"He’s done an incredible job guiding our offense, instilling confidence in the players, and structuring the playbook," Goedert said Monday night at the Super Bowl Opening Night event. "I don’t know all the nuances of what he does differently, but our offensive success speaks for itself.
"He’d make a great head coach, but I like having him as our OC."
Moore joined the Eagles in 2024 after a turbulent season with the Los Angeles Chargers under former head coach Brandon Staley. His arrival in Philadelphia was meant to inject fresh ideas into an offense that had stagnated. While the transformation wasn’t immediate, the addition of running back Saquon Barkley played a key role in the Eagles finishing with the eighth-ranked offense in the NFL and securing the NFC title.
This season’s journey differs significantly from last year’s. In 2023, the Eagles started strong but collapsed in the final seven weeks, winning just one game. The late-season struggles raised doubts about head coach Nick Sirianni’s job security, prompting him to revamp his coaching staff.
Sirianni made key hires by bringing in Moore as offensive coordinator and Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator. Under Fangio, the Eagles’ defense has reached an elite level, while Moore’s offense silenced early postseason concerns with a dominant 55-point performance against the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.
"He’s introduced fresh ideas and a new perspective," quarterback Jalen Hurts said Tuesday. "I’ve had a different coordinator almost every year of my career, so my mindset has always been to absorb as much as possible. Kellen’s approach has helped me grow as a player."
While Barkley’s contributions were a major factor in the Eagles’ success, Moore’s play-calling ensured the offense remained dynamic and unpredictable, preventing defenses from solely focusing on the star running back.
"Both Kellen and Vic have been invaluable to us," Sirianni said Tuesday. "Success is built on great collaboration between coaches and players. Watching how detail-oriented they are in coaching, I knew early on that we hit home runs with both hires."
As the Eagles prepare to face Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s formidable unit on Sunday, any distractions—including Moore’s potential departure—must be set aside.
"Right now, our focus is solely on this game," Sirianni emphasized. "Kellen is locked in. We’re all locked in. Whatever happens after the season, we’ll deal with it then. But I have no doubt that whenever Kellen gets his opportunity to be a head coach, he’ll excel. His passion, work ethic, and offensive mind are top-notch, and he’s a great person to work with."
For now, Moore’s attention remains on one final challenge with the Eagles. What comes next will unfold in the days following Super Bowl LIX.
0 comments:
Post a Comment