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Eagles coach Nick Sirianni makes Hail Mary try at retaining Kellen Moore

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni made a Hail Mary try at retaining Kellen Moore after their Super Bowl championship: ‘Let’s run this (expletive) back’

You can’t hate a guy for trying. With another Super Bowl victory in hand and grinning players and coaches all around him, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni took a moment to try and sustain his success a little longer.

Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore put on a show in Sunday night’s runaway win over the Kansas City Chiefs, as did veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Sirianni thanked both of them in his postgame speech but he also made a last-second, maybe halfhearted plea to Moore with green confetti raining down around him from the postgame stage.

“Kellen, you know, let’s run this (expletive) back, Kellen,” Sirianni laughed, preparing to accept the Lombardi Trophy. “Let’s run this back.”

Moore’s looming departure for the New Orleans Saints has been the elephant in the room all week. It’s been repeatedly reported that Moore is expected to become the Saints’ next head coach now that the Super Bowl is behind him, but nothing is guaranteed until he’s signed his contract. Moore will fly back to Philadelphia on Monday with the Eagles and celebrate their championship win a little longer before turning his attention back to New Orleans.

So Sirianni will have some time to work to keep his team together. Let’s see if it makes a difference.

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Adam Schefter says that, barring setback, Saints will hire Kellen Moore

Adam Schefter says that, barring a setback, the New Orleans Saints will hire Kellen Moore: ‘A chance to probably triple his salary, become a head coach, one of 32’

The New Orleans Saints head coach search has entered a state of limbo. They don’t have a new coach under contract, but they clearly have a top target. They can’t talk to him, but Kellen Moore and the Philadelphia Eagles will be practicing at their Metairie facility this week. They aren’t allowed to speak with Moore until after Super Bowl LIX, which will be played at the Caesars Superdome. And they’ve told other coach candidates they won’t be making a decision until after the Super Bowl. Conveniently, that’s when Moore will be cleared to contact the team.

It’s kind of an awkward place to be in. All signs point to Moore becoming the Saints’ next head coach, but we aren’t across the finish line yet. ESPN’s Adam Schefter spoke about the situation during a Monday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

“Of course, barring a setback, he’s going to be the guy. Could there be a setback? Sure. There often are setbacks,” Schefter said, pointing to examples like Josh McDaniels leaving the Indianapolis Colts at the alter and Bill Belichick not coaching the New York Jets. It was a different scenario but Liam Coen flipping back to the Jacksonville Jaguars, leaving an offer on the table with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is a more recent example.

Schefter added that general manager Mickey Loomis has taken steps (and will continue to take steps) to do “everything in his power, when it comes to this coaching hire, to follow the rules and go by the book and not talk to Kellen Moore until after the Super Bowl. Could it break down and they not reach an agreement? Sure. Its that likely? No. Kellen Moore is gonna have a chance to probably triple his salary, become a head coach, one of 32.”

Why can’t the Saints contact Moore? That would be considered tampering, a penalty which would include a loss of draft picks. Schefter added, “What are they waiting for? Why not go hire him right now? But they’re not, and they’re waiting. They’re waiting to talk to Kellen Moore and they’re waiting to make sure they give the Eagles absolutely zero evidence that they’ve tampered with the guy until after the game.”

The Eagles have been here before, and the Saints clearly learned from being on the outside looking in. Philadelphia benefited from tampering charges on the Arizona Cardinals not following NFL protocol to hire Jonathan Gannon (then the Eagles defensive coordinator) as their head coach. That isn’t a situation Loomis is going to put the Saints in, hence the delay.

You just hope a setback doesn’t appear that takes Moore out of the running for the job. He’ll be speaking with the media almost every day leading up to Super Bowl LIX and is certain to face questions about the Saints’ controversial involvement in the New Orleans archdiocese clergy abuse scandal. The next week will be crucial.

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Saints learned from Cardinals’ tampering mistake with Eagles head coach candidate

The Cardinals were once found guilty on tampering charges for Jonathan Gannon. The Saints are working to avoid that as they pursue Eagles coach Kellen Moore:

If the Philadelphia Eagles lose offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to the New Orleans Saints, it will be the second time they’ve lost their offensive coordinator in three seasons. It’s happened after both of their Super Bowl appearances. Coincidentally, they will have lost their play caller to the host city’s team both times as well.

After losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon stayed in Phoenix to coach the Arizona Cardinals. Kellen Moore could have a similar fate in New Orleans.

And the Saints are taking every precaution to not have the same fate as the Cardinals. When Arizona hired Gannon, they had to swap third-draft picks with the Eagles because the NFL determined Arizona was guilty of tampering. Philadelphia received the No. 66 pick in exchange for the No. 94 pick, plus a fifth-round selection in 2024.

New Orleans hasn’t succumbed to the same pitfalls the Cardinals fell victim to. Arizona contacted Gannon for the first time the day after the NFC Championship Game. NFL rules dictate the process very clearly: when speaking with candidates, teams must first hold a virtual teleconference interview (capped at three hours). After that, they can meet in person either at the team facility or another location, and those talks can take eight or nine hours to cover everything. Further discussions can happen, but you’ve got to follow the process.

You may think to yourself the Saints did the same as Arizona. They did fly to Philadelphia after Moore’s offense put up a season-high 55 points to win the NFC. The difference is that New Orleans had followed NFL protocol to the letter. They already interviewed Moore virtually, but that was the first time the Cardinals talked to Gannon. This small difference of not being the initial contact is the difference between receiving tampering penalties.

What if they misstepped? New Orleans has two third-round selections. They’d most likely have to part ways with their first pick at No. 71 and drop down to No. 95 or 96 (depending on the Super Bowl outcome).

That’s a difference of 24 to 25 slots by simply adhering to the NFL regulations. The Saints need to stock talent right now, so dropping down in the draft is only acceptable via trade. They’ve done a good job following the rules to this point. Let’s hope they don’t drop the ball before they’ve crossed the goal line.

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Mickey Loomis has informed Saints coach candidates a decision will wait until after Super Bowl LIX

NFL Network reports Mickey Loomis has informed several Saints coach candidates a decision will wait until after Super Bowl LIX, and he’ll continue negotiations with Eagles OC Kellen Moore:

This is big. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Friday afternoon that New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis informed several candidates in the team’s head coach search they’re effectively out of the race — and that “while there has been no final decision, he plans to continue discussions with Kellen Moore.”

The Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator cannot speak with the Saints again until after Super Bowl LIX, but Pelissero adds that a meeting has already been scheduled. Expect the Saints to formally hire Moore on or around Monday, Feb. 10 and announce him as the team’s new head coach.

Unless there’s a last-minute hiccup, anyway. Moore could change his mind and the Saints would have to pivot to someone else, but that doesn’t feel likely. Look at what just happened to Bobby Slowik. Like Moore, he was a fast-rising offensive coordinator for a playoff team, drawing interviews for head coach openings himself just one year ago. Then the Houston Texans fired him after a second-year slump. Moore is striking while the iron is hot.

So never say never. Don’t celebrate and toss the ball away until after you’ve crossed the goal line. But for all intents and purposes, Moore is positioned to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Who could join him on staff? We’ve got six names to keep in mind, and some free agents he could target in the offseason, too.

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Chris Olave on Kellen Moore potentially becoming his next coach: ‘That’s huge’

If Chris Olave’s reaction is any indication, Kellen Moore would be popular in the New Orleans Saints locker room:

As the New Orleans Saints head coaching search enters into its final stretch, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has become the name most linked to the job, at least among the media as well as in league circles. With so much attention on the city of New Orleans right now with Super Bowl LIX looming, many media platforms have chosen this time to share many thoughts about the possibility of Moore becoming the Saints’ next head coach.

If Chris Olave’s reaction is any indication, Moore would be a popular fit in the locker room. The Saints receiver weighed in on Moore and the idea of potentially getting a coach with experience in the big game.

“That’s huge,” said Olave, acknowledging that he’d seen Moore’s name mentioned with other candidates in this cycle. He continued, “Just to have somebody that has reached the Super Bowl and who has a possibility to win it comes in and be the next head coach, that’s huge. I’m excited to see who the next head coach is, I’m going to be a better version of myself to try and help them win.”

Olave, who is coming off an injury-riddled third year, is looking to bounce back after two straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career. The idea of getting a young and innovative offensive mind in the building should bring a ton of excitement to a team that has struggled since the days of Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Finding someone who cannot only command a room and call an offense, but can maximize the potential of his players will be a crucial factor when it’s all said and done. It’s clear that Moore has a lot of credibility for what he’s achieved in Philly. Let’s see if the Saints can seal the deal.

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Report: Saints QB situation may turn off top head coach candidate

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that NFL ‘scuttlebutt’ suggests the uncertainty of the Saints QB situation may turn off their top remaining head coach candidate:

The New Orleans Saints hiring Kellen Moore to become their new head coach is far from a done deal. The Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator cannot formally accept the job or sign a contract until after Super Bowl LIX, meaning the Saints would have to wait until Feb. 10 to cross the finish line — just like they did last year with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

So things could go sideways. Moore could choose to stay on a Super Bowl contender rather than try his luck with the Saints. It’s obvious by now that the Saints aren’t an appealing destination around the league (just look at Aaron Glenn, Joe Brady, and Kliff Kingsbury all choosing to go in other directions). And one aspect that may turn off prospective coaches is the Saints’ outlook at quarterback.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini shared what she’s heard about the situation.

“There was a little scuttlebutt,” Russini said on her Scoop City podcast, “about whether or not Kellen would want this job. And it’s due to the fact they don’t have a quarterback there already in place, that was concerning. With that being said I think he’s come around on it from what I was hearing, ‘Maybe this is the right spot for me.'”

Derek Carr is only one game over .500 as the Saints’ starter, and behind him they have one uninspiring backup in Jake Haener and a winless rookie in Spencer Rattler. Carr is also owed more than $51 million this year due to last season’s restructure and there isn’t a realistic path out of his contract in 2025. This will take time to fix. Russini says that’s partly why Moore and the Saints could actually be a good fit.

“They do (have Carr under contract). But there’s also an understanding throughout the league that the New Orleans Saints need another year to rebuild this thing. They’re in cap hell. And they’re comfortable understanding that. They know their limitations. They’re not expecting Kellen Moore to come in here, let’s just say and get the job, and turn this whole thing around. They know they need someone who’s patient with them,” Russini finished.

The Saints were conservative in free agency last year while working to clear their salary cap books, and that’s likely to be the approach again in 2025. With so many teams craving instant success around the NFL — that shortsighted approach is why Mickey Loomis put the Saints in cap hell, by the way — it’s kind of refreshing to see a path for Moore to take his time and get his own players and coaches in the building. But that path isn’t for everyone, and it’s likely why Russini picked up those rumors of discontent surrounding the Saints head coach search.

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And now Mike McCarthy has pulled himself out of the Saints head coach search

And now Mike McCarthy has pulled himself out of the Saints head coach search. NFL Network reports he’s taking the year off and will look for work in 2026:

A major domino fell in the New Orleans Saints head coach search on Tuesday evening, when former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy chose to pull himself out of the sweepstakes. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapaport share that McCarthy will instead sit out the 2025 season, and focus on a return to coaching in 2026.

This is big news for the Saints, who flew cross-country to sit down with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore after previously meeting in person with several other candidates. McCarthy was the last name on their current list but he’ll wait to see if he can find a warmer reception in the next cycle.

McCarthy was widely expected to be a front runner when he became available given his history with the Saints; he was the team’s offensive coordinator when Mickey Loomis took over as general manager, having replaced his predecessor Randy Mueller. Mueller returned to the team late last year and was consulting in this year’s search. But by all accounts McCarthy received a more lukewarm reaction from the Saints than expected, which likely played into this decision.

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Saints to interview Super Bowl-winning coach this week, pending Kellen Moore visit

Report: The New Orleans Saints plan to interview former Cowboys and Packers coach Mike McCarthy this week, pending visit with Eagles OC Kellen Moore:

For a few weeks now, the New Orleans Saints interest in former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has been increasingly evident, and it continues to look like he will end up as a finalist for the teams head coaching job. There had been many reports during this time that McCarthy would be interviewing with the team some time in the near future, but up until today nothing had been planned between the two parties.

On Monday, we found that McCarthy and the Saints do have a plan in place for an interview that will take place at the end of the week. There aren’t any details on where this meeting will take place but it’s likely that McCarthy will come down to New Orleans since he isn’t currently employed by another team at the moment.

The Saints are currently meeting with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in Philly just a day after his team’s blowout win against their division rival Commanders. The Saints’ interest in Moore seems to be very strong at the moment and a potential deal with the team could be in the cards as soon as tonight. We should get word sometime early this week on whether or not the team was able to strike a deal with the young OC.

Kellen Moore watch: Saints owner’s private jet flies in to Philadelphia

Gayle Benson’s private jet flew out of New Orleans and into Philadelphia on Monday afternoon. A sit-down interview with Eagles OC Kellen Moore appears imminent:

It doesn’t look like last week’s Joe Brady fiasco is repeating itself with Kellen Moore. The New Orleans Saints reportedly made plans to fly in to Philadelphia as soon as Monday after the Eagles offensive coordinator led his team to a blowout win over the division-rival Washington Commanders in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. And on Monday they followed through on that expectation.

The plane, a 2014 Bombardier Challenger 300 licensed through Benson Football LLC and registered with the Federal Aviation Administration at N411ST, departed New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport on Monday afternoon. After reaching a cruising altitude moving north-by-northeast over the Southeast, the flight descended in a turn east over Delaware before approaching Philadelphia from the south. You can find the flight map here.

Were general manager Mickey Loomis and his confidants on board? Top lieutenants like Jeff Ireland, Khai Harley, and Michael Parenton have sat in on all virtual interviews so far, along with senior personnel advisor Randy Mueller. One name no longer in those meetings is Dave Ziegler, another consultant who left for a full-time role in the Tennessee Titans front office.

It says a lot about the Saints’ interest in Moore that the Saints are flying cross-country to meet with him in person. Other candidates like Darren Rizzi, Anthony Weaver, and Mike Kafka all held their second, in-person interviews in New Orleans at the team headquarters. But it remains to be seen whether anyone from the team brass was actually on board or if this trip was related at all. But that sure feels like a safe assumption.

Update: The jet landed at Philadelphia International Airport around 6:47 p.m. ET, having spent a little over two hours in the air. It’s a 12-minute drive to the Eagles headquarters at the Novacare Complex, but the Saints will likely want to meet with Moore elsewhere. Stay tuned for more details.

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Report: Saints may fly out to meet with head coach candidate in person

NFL Network reports the New Orleans Saints’ team brass may fly out to Philadelphia to interview Eagles OC Kellen Moore in person as soon as Monday:

It’s been a tough week in the New Orleans Saints head coach search. Two of the team’s top targets, Aaron Glenn and Joe Brady, chose to pursue other opportunities and declined in-person interviews with general manager Mickey Loomis after working down the hall from him just a few years ago. All six of the other head coaching vacancies have been filled. If the Saints could get out of their own way they could have their pick of the candidates still available, but guys like Brady clearly don’t view them as an attractive destination.

Still, time is of the essence. Whoever does get hired as head coach will have to build a new staff and the competition for those candidates is heating up. The sooner the Saints can get in the mix, the better. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Sunday morning that the team has made plans to potentially fly in to another city to sit down with a potential head coach after twice interviewing Anthony Weaver and Mike Kafka, as well as their own interim coach Darren Rizzi.

“The Saints also plan to speak again with Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. They are allowed under the rules to speak with Moore, win or lose for the Eagles today, but the result of this game could impact the timing. The Saints ideally want to speak with Moore as soon as possible. Could head to Philadelphia even to speak with him as soon as Monday,” Pelissero said.

It wouldn’t be the first time a team charters a private flight to another NFL city to interview a coach, but it would be the first time the Saints have done it this cycle. Thus far all contact with coach candidates has meant interviews (either virtually or in person at the team headquarters in Metairie) with general manager Mickey Loomis, his lieutenants Jeff Ireland, Khai Harley, and Michael Parenton plus consultants Randy Mueller and Dave Ziegler.

Loading all of them up and onto Gayle Benson’s private jet to go meet with a twice-fired offensive coordinator almost reeks of desperation to fill the job, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

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