Last season, the Cowboys were tops in the league in yards per game and points per game. This season, even without their starting quarterback for five full games, they ranked fourth and 11th, respectively.
Deciding they might also be interested in numbers like that for next season, the Carolina Panthers have put in a request to speak with Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore about their current head coach opening. ESPN’s Todd Archer first reported the news Wednesday morning.
Matt Rhule was fired just five games into Carolina’s season after the team started 1-4. He had coached only 38 games for the club and still had four years left on his contract. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks took over as the Panthers’ interim head coach, guiding them to a 6-6 mark the rest of the way.
Former Cowboys consultant Ben McAdoo was the team’s offensive coordinator for the entire 2022 season. Under him, the Panthers finished 20th among all teams in points per game and 29th in yards per game.
The Carolina Panthers have requested permission to interview Cowboys OC Kellen Moore for their head coach opening, per multiple sources. Moore interviewed with Miami and Jacksonville last year.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 11, 2023
Moore, 34 years old and in his fourth season as Cowboys OC, was a popular candidate during last year’s cycle of coaches’ interviews. The ex-quarterback met with the Jaguars, Broncos, Dolphins, and Vikings in early 2022, and interviewed with the Eagles the year prior.
Asked about potential job opportunities prior to the team’s Week 18 regular-season finale, Moore said he was “not too worried about it right now.”
“If something happens, we’ll go through that process if we have to,” he told reporters on Jan. 2.
The Panthers are clearly leaning toward an offensive mind with this next hire. According to Panthers Wire, Moore’s name will be on a slate that, along with Wilks, includes former NFL coaches Jim Caldwell and Frank Reich, and Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, and Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as Carolina’s known roster of head coach candidates.
Under league rules, the Panthers may not formally speak with Moore until after the Cowboys’ wild card playoff game in Tampa on Monday night.
The Panthers will host the Cowboys during the 2023 season.
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