Sources – Saints hiring Eagles OC Kellen Moore as head coach

METAIRIE, La. — Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has agreed to turn out to be coach of the New Orleans Saints, sources instructed ESPN on Tuesday.

The Saints made the transfer official two days after Moore and the Eagles received Tremendous Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Moore left New Orleans to fly residence with the staff however will return to make the transfer official.

The Eagles defeated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 40-22, and quarterback Jalen Hurts was named Tremendous Bowl MVP. Instantly after the Tremendous Bowl win, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni jokingly pleaded with Moore to return to the staff for an additional season.

“Let’s run this s— again, Kellen,” Sirianni mentioned, laughing.

Moore, 36, determined to maneuver forward together with his quest to turn out to be a head coach as a substitute after one season in Philadelphia. The Eagles averaged 27.2 factors per sport within the common season (seventh within the NFL) and 36.3 factors per sport within the postseason (first within the NFL).

Former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who spent final season as an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers, is a number one candidate to turn out to be Moore’s defensive coordinator in New Orleans, sources instructed ESPN. Moore was the Chargers’ offensive coordinator below Staley in 2023.

Fixing the Saints’ protection might be a significant precedence for Moore and whomever he hires as defensive coordinator. The Saints allowed the third-most yards per sport final season (379.9).

The Eagles, in the meantime, will now be hiring their third offensive coordinator prior to now three years. Moore changed Brian Johnson, who was fired after the 2023 season. Johnson had changed Shane Steichen, who left the Eagles after the 2022 season to turn out to be the Indianapolis Colts‘ head coach.

The Saints have been the final staff to fill their head teaching emptiness. Beneath NFL guidelines, they might not make Moore’s hiring official till the conclusion of the Tremendous Bowl.

The New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots all carried out teaching searches that concluded earlier than the Tremendous Bowl.

The Saints have been keen to attend on Moore after flying to Philadelphia to interview him after the NFC Championship Recreation two weeks in the past.

He was one in every of 4 candidates to interview in particular person with the Saints, who additionally carried out a number of interviews with New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Saints particular groups coordinator Darren Rizzi, who was promoted to interim coach after Dennis Allen was fired on Nov. 4.

Moore is the primary head coach to come back from outdoors the constructing since Sean Payton stepped away after the 2021 season. The Saints promoted Allen, then the defensive coordinator, to the open place after a fast teaching search that concerned a small pool of candidates, every of whom interviewed as soon as.

Moore is also a departure from Allen, who was 50 and a second-time coach when employed. Moore might be one of many youngest head coaches within the league and comes from the offensive aspect of the ball, much like the Payton rent in 2006. Payton had three seasons of expertise as an offensive coordinator with the Giants upon his hiring.

Moore performed quarterback for Boise State from 2007 to 2011 and within the NFL with the Detroit Lions and the Cowboys.

Moore began his NFL teaching profession following his retirement from enjoying after the 2017 season. He was the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach in 2017 and the offensive coordinator in Dallas 2019-2022. He was offensive coordinator for the Chargers in 2023 earlier than taking the identical place with the Eagles this season.

His offenses are ranked fifth since 2019 in factors per sport (26.4) and yards per sport (376.5), whereas his quarterbacks have posted a 62.1 Whole QBR, additionally fifth within the NFL since 2019, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.