Why Kellen Moore is best remaining candidate for Saints HC job

The Saints are running out of options in their 2025 head coaching search. 

Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is one of the few remaining under consideration. If hired, he could be more than a consolation prize to a front office desperate for a win.

On Monday, Saints reporter Nick Underhill shared New Orleans team officials had flown to Philadelphia to interview Moore, fresh off the Eagles' 55-23 NFC Championship Game romp over the Commanders.

Philadelphia scored the most points in conference championship game history, rushing for seven touchdowns in the blowout win.

On Tuesday, former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy became the third candidate to withdraw as a candidate, following Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

The Saints were also interested in hiring former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who accepted the Jets' head coach opening instead.

Moore is one of three candidates to receive a second interview with the Saints, following Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Giants assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.

If hired, Moore, 36, would be the league's youngest head coach. New Orleans has spent years as one of the league's oldest teams, and his hiring could represent a broader youth movement for an organization that desperately needs to turn the page on the previous regime.

He'd also provide tangible on-field benefits. Moore has been the offensive coordinator and play-caller for four top-10 scoring offenses, including three with the Cowboys (2019, 2021-22) and this season with the Eagles.

Moore knows the importance of a strong offensive line from those two stops. Along with quarterback inconsistency, that's been one of New Orleans' biggest weaknesses over the past few seasons.

The unit has potential, particularly with 2025 Pro Bowl Games replacement Erik McCoy, whose Week 3 groin injury against the Eagles contributed to the team's downward skid after a 2-0 start, and 2024 rookie right tackle Taliese Fuaga.

Right guard Cesar Ruiz, a 2020 first-round pick, had arguably his best season, allowing 13 total pressures and one sack in 445 pass-rush opportunities, per Pro Football Focus.

Arriving from the Eagles, Moore could potentially poach a position coach from the league's best defense to run the Saints' defense. The unit is coming off its worst season since 2016, ranking No. 30 in total defense and No. 19 in scoring.

Eagles senior defensive assistant and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, cornerbacks coach Roy Anderson and inside linebackers coach Bobby King would all be solid options to spark a Saints defensive revival.

Hurtt was Seahawks defensive coordinator from 2022-23, while Eagles linebacker Zack Baun had a breakthrough season with King as his position coach, being named first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2024 after primarily playing special teams for four seasons in New Orleans.

Anderson has ties to the area. He was a graduate assistant at LSU in 2004 under former head coach Nick Saban. Anderson was also the Tigers' lead defensive analyst during their undefeated 2019 CFP national championship season.

With three NFC championships in the past eight seasons, the Eagles are a franchise others should replicate. As big of a hit as the Saints have taken during this hiring cycle, they could make the most out of a bad situation by hiring Moore.