The Los Angeles Chargers are hiring Jim Harbaugh to be their next head coach, and the ripple effects of that move could send Kellen Moore back into the NFC East pond.
The offensive coordinator and the Cowboys parted ways nearly one year ago, with Moore being quickly snatched up by L.A. to serve in the same role under Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. Staley only made it through 14 games of the season, being let go after compiling a 24-24 record with the team over two-plus seasons. The Chargers finished 5-12 for the season and in last place in the AFC West.
Despite a lackluster year with Justin Herbert and the Bolts offense, the 35-year-old Moore is still considered a promising young offensive mind in league circles. The Chargers are reportedly going to let Moore test that theory.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Philadelphia Eagles have requested an interview with Moore for their offensive coordinator position, as have the Cleveland Browns. Given the new administration coming to L.A., the Chargers are expected to let him speak with clubs about new opportunities.
The #Eagles also requested an interview with Kellen Moore for their OC job, per sources. https://t.co/jvNC2oCIfV
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 25, 2024
The Eagles fired Brian Johnson as OC early this week after one year at the helm and a playoff appearance. Philadelphia is in the midst of an extensive coaching staff revamp, with veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio signing on to lead that side of the ball.
Cleveland also fired Alex Van Pelt as their OC, following their own postseason exit in the wild-card round. He had spent four years with the club. Every single team in the NFL has now had to replace its offensive coordinator since 2022.
Moore has been looked at by the Eagles before. He was a popular name for head coach interviews following the 2020 season and was courted heavily by his college alma mater, Boise State. Philadelphia met with him as well and the two sides got on well, according to Moore. The Eagles ended up hiring Nick Sirianni instead; Moore returned to the Cowboys on a lucrative three-year extension.
By the end of the next season, the Cowboys finished No. 1 leaguewide in yards, second in passing yards, and ninth in rushing yards. In 2022, they had the NFL’s top-ranked red zone offense. Dallas scored 530 and 467 points in those seasons, their highest-scoring consecutive seasons in franchise history. But the team and Moore parted ways after a divisional-round loss to San Francisco, with head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties and installing Brian Schottenheimer as the official offensive coordinator.
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In all, Moore spent eight years with the Cowboys: three as a quarterback, one as the team’s QB coach, and four as OC.
Moore would have plenty of weaponry to work with in Philadelphia. Quarterback Jalen Hurts and their talented crew of pass-catchers and ballcarriers would closely mimic what he had in Dallas with Dak Prescott & Co.
And seeing Moore, the wunderkind once thought to be in line for the Cowboys top job, on the opposite sideline twice a year would only lend more juice to the Cowboys-Eagles rivalry.
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