Cowboys OC Kellen Moore passed over by Panthers; Carolina hires HC

Moore reportedly “really, really stood out in his interviews,” but Frank Reich’s hiring paves the way for the OC’s return to Dallas. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore isn’t going anywhere. Well, he’s not going to Carolina. Or, more accurately, he’s not going to Carolina to be their next head coach.

The Panthers have chosen Frank Reich as their next head coach, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The former Colts coach was let go by Indianapolis earlier this season after guiding the team to a 3-5-1 start.

Moore had been the last of the candidates to interview for the position. And after his Tuesday visit turned into a two-day meeting with the Panthers front office, many took that to mean that the 34-year-old might be a leading prospect for the job.

Rapoport confirmed via Twitter that Moore “really, really stood out in his interviews” and that he “made this a very tough decision” for Panthers brass. But in the end, Carolina owner David Tepper opted to stick with someone who had previous head coaching experience.

The Carolina job was the only one that Moore has interviewed for so far this offseason, but after talks last year with the Vikings and Dolphins reportedly went well (Moore also interviewed with Philadelphia the year prior), it’s thought that the ex-Boise State quarterback will remain a name to watch as the coaching carousel continues to turn.

His place in Dallas could also be something to monitor. The Cowboys parted ways with six assistants on Wednesday, including offensive line coach Joe Philbin, running backs coach Skip Peete, and assistant head coach Rob Davis, among others. Whether the staff shakeup in Dallas is done or what those moves could mean for those who are staying remains to be seen.

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