By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The coaching carousel following the 2024 NFL season has finally quit spinning. The last head coaching vacancy was officially filled as my hometown New Orleans Saints get their man.

Kellen Moore, fresh off a Super Bowl win as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator, is stepping into a new role as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. \

The team announced the big move Tuesday, just two days after Moore helped the Eagles take down the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. Quarterback Jalen Hurts walked away with the game’s MVP honors, and it didn’t take long for Moore to be at the center of coaching headlines.

Saints’ owner Gayle Benson said hiring Moore was all about finding the right person to bring back the winning culture the franchise and its fans expect. “It became clear that Kellen is the guy to do that,” she said. Benson also gave props to Darren Rizzi for stepping up as interim coach after Dennis Allen was fired midseason.

Moore, 36, decided to chase the head coaching opportunity after just one season in Philadelphia, where the offense was a force to be reckoned with. The Eagles averaged 27.2 points per game during the regular season and cranked that up to 36.3 in the playoffs, tops in the league. Even Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni tried to convince Moore to stay, joking after the Super Bowl win, “Let’s run this back, Kellen.”

But Moore was ready for a fresh challenge, and he’s got one in New Orleans. One of his biggest tasks will be fixing the Saints’ defense, which gave up 379.9 yards per game last season—one of the worst marks in the league.

Word is Moore might bring in former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who was recently an assistant with the 49ers, as his defensive coordinator. The two worked together when Moore was the Chargers’ offensive coordinator in 2023.

The Saints were the last NFL team to lock down a new head coach, as league rules kept them from finalizing Moore’s hire until after the Super Bowl.

They were patient, though, even flying to Philly for an interview with Moore after the NFC Championship Game.

Other candidates included New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and Rizzi, who had filled in as interim coach.

Moore marks a shift from the Saints’ recent approach. He’s the first head coach hired from outside the organization since Sean Payton left after the 2021 season.

Unlike his predecessor Dennis Allen, who was a defensive-minded coach with more experience, Moore brings a younger, offensive-focused vibe that’s a bit reminiscent of when Payton first joined the team.

Moore’s path to coaching started after he retired as a player in 2017.

A standout quarterback at Boise State, he played in the NFL with the Lions and Cowboys before making the jump to coaching.

He was the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach in 2017 and later their offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022. After a year with the Chargers, he moved on to the Eagles this past season.

Known for his offensive creativity, Moore’s play-calling has kept his teams competitive since 2019.

His offenses rank fifth in the NFL in points per game (26.4) and yards per game (376.5), with quarterbacks posting a 62.1 Total QBR, also fifth in the league during that span.

Saints fans are hoping Moore can bring that same firepower to New Orleans and get the team back on track. With his offensive know-how and a fresh perspective, there’s plenty of reason for excitement as he takes the reins.