The rumors started as a low hum in late January, the kind of chatter that usually gets buried under Super Bowl hype. But in New Orleans, where the post-Sean Payton era felt like a long, humid afternoon without a breeze, the news that the Saints interview Kellen Moore for their head coaching vacancy hit different. People weren't just curious; they were desperate for something that didn't look like a 1990s run-heavy offensive slog.
Honestly, it’s wild how fast things move in the NFL. One minute Moore is calling plays for Jalen Hurts in Philly, and the next, he’s sitting in a room with Mickey Loomis trying to explain how he’d fix a cap-strapped roster in the Big Easy.
The Interview That Changed Everything
When the Saints first requested to speak with Kellen Moore, he was fresh off a Super Bowl LIX victory with the Philadelphia Eagles. His stock was through the roof. He’d just overseen a season where Saquon Barkley went nuclear for 2,000 yards. New Orleans, meanwhile, was stuck in a rut. Dennis Allen was out, and the "Who Dat" nation was tired of "playing it safe."
The interview wasn't just a formality. It was a marathon. They spent hours talking about Derek Carr, who was still the presumed starter at the time. Moore reportedly walked in with a plan that used more motion and tempo than the Saints had seen in a decade. He wasn't there to just be a coordinator; he wanted the big chair.
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Mickey Loomis later admitted that Moore’s consistency "didn't bat an eye" when the landscape shifted. You’ve gotta respect that. The guy has this calm, almost boring demeanor that hides a pretty aggressive tactical brain.
Why Kellen Moore?
- The Track Record: In Dallas, his offenses were consistently top-five.
- The Philly Bounce-Back: He proved he could adapt to a mobile QB like Hurts and a power run game.
- The Youth Factor: At 36, he represented the "young offensive genius" archetype every owner is obsessed with right now.
A Brutal First Year in New Orleans
Moore got the job on February 11, 2025. Then, things got messy.
Imagine hiring a guy specifically to maximize your veteran quarterback, only for that quarterback—Derek Carr—to retire three months later in May. Suddenly, Moore was a first-time head coach with a massive hole at QB and a roster that was starting to show its age.
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The 2025 season started with a disastrous 2-10 stretch. It was ugly. Fans were calling for heads. But Moore stayed the course. He pivoted to Tyler Shough, a guy most people had written off. They ended the season winning four straight, finishing 6-11. It’s not a playoff record, but it was enough to keep the hope alive in the Dome.
The Staff He Built
Moore didn't come alone. He brought Doug Nussmeier from Philly to run the offense and, in a move that shocked a lot of people, convinced Brandon Staley to handle the defense. It was a "best of" list of guys Moore had worked with in Dallas, LA, and Philadelphia. Basically, he built a cocoon of familiar faces to survive the NOLA pressure cooker.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Moore Era
People think Kellen Moore is just a "pass-first" guy because of his Boise State days. That’s a myth. If you look at what he did during that Saints interview and the subsequent 2025 season, he’s actually obsessed with the run game.
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He helped Saquon Barkley hit career highs in Philly, and by the end of 2025 in New Orleans, he had the Saints' run game looking functional for the first time in years. He uses the pass to set up the run, which is sort of the inverse of the old-school philosophy.
It’s also worth noting the "Boise State Factor." Moore is the winningest QB in college history (50-3). That level of winning leaves a mark on how a person sees the game. He doesn't panic. When the Saints were 2-10, he wasn't screaming on the sidelines. He was just... adjusting.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Saints are heading into Moore’s second year with the 8th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The cap situation is finally—finally—starting to look manageable.
The schedule for 2026 is actually kind of a gift. Because they finished last in the NFC South, they get a "last-place" schedule. That means dates with other struggling teams like the Giants and Bears. Moore has an "upper hand" here to actually make a playoff push if Shough continues to develop or if they snag a top-tier QB in April.
Actionable Insights for Saints Fans
- Watch the 2026 Draft: The Saints need a franchise cornerstone at pick #8. Moore’s influence on this pick will tell us if he’s truly committed to Tyler Shough or looking for "his" guy.
- Monitor the Run-Pass Ratio: If Moore stays true to his 2025 late-season form, expect a heavy dose of Alvin Kamara (if he’s still around) and creative run schemes.
- Give it Time: First-year head coaches often stumble. The 4-game win streak to end 2025 is the metric to watch, not the 6-11 final record.
The Saints interview Kellen Moore wasn't just another meeting on the coaching carousel. It was the moment the franchise decided to stop looking backward at the 2009 Super Bowl and start looking at what modern NFL football actually looks like. It’s been a rocky start, but the foundation is finally under construction.