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Moore's first moves are most important to future Saints success
Kellen Moore. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Kellen Moore's first moves are most important to future Saints success

The Saints have their next head coach, and Kellen Moore's success or failure will hinge on his first moves in his new post.

On Tuesday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared that New Orleans and Moore agreed to a contract to make the 2024 Eagles Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator the 12th full-time head coach in franchise history.

Moore, 36, is the league's youngest head coach, one year younger than Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. 

Moore played quarterback at Boise State from 2008-11 and is the program's all-time leading passer, throwing for 14,667 yards and 142 touchdowns.

He is the fifth coach hired this offseason without prior head-coaching experience, the most since 2022. How he fleshes out his coaching staff will significantly affect how quickly New Orleans bounces back from four consecutive non-playoff seasons.

The Saints went 5-12 in 2024, their worst record since 2005 (3-13). 

Per media reports, 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley is expected to be considered for the Saints defensive coordinator position. Staley was head coach of the Chargers from 2021-23, with Moore serving as his offensive coordinator in 2023.

Staley was fired after Week 15 in 2023, but like New Orleans' previous head coach, Dennis Allen, he is much better when focusing on his specialty.

Staley was previously the defensive coordinator of the Rams (2020) when they finished No. 1 in scoring and total defense.

Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier is another name floated as a potential Saints staff member under Moore.

Nussmeier has extensive coaching experience and played for the Saints from 1994-97, starting twice. He has a strong connection to Moore, having been on the same staff as the Saints head coach since 2018 when Nussmeier was the Cowboys tight ends coach and Moore was the team's quarterbacks coach.

Nussmeier's son, Garrett, is also the starting quarterback at LSU, roughly 80 miles northwest of the Caesars Superdome.

Moore must bring in assistants with previous NFL coaching experience, but he shouldn't solely focus on hiring retreads.

One intriguing name that's been floated as a potential assistant is ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky. On Monday morning, during ESPN's "First Take," Orlovsky took time to say goodbye to his colleagues.

"Never know what the future holds, but I'm taking a break," said Orlovsky, prompting speculation he could leave the network.

Moore and Orlovsky were teammates with the Lions in the mid-2010s and have maintained a friendship.

When Moore was initially mentioned as a Saints coaching candidate, Orlovsky said, "I'll be rooting for him. I think the world of him."

Orlovsky has previously expressed interest in coaching. It could be worth it for the Saints to give the star ESPN analyst a spot on their staff. Moore might also be able to offer promotions to Eagles assistants fresh off a Super Bowl LIX win.

As New Orleans retools its roster and deals with the effects of exorbitant dead money cap charges, it's imperative to have the right coaching staff.

The Saints already owe $48.4M in dead money in 2025, and that number could balloon depending on what the front office does with quarterback Derek Carr. If cut this offseason, New Orleans would incur a dead-money charge of $21.5M (as a post-June 1 cut) or $50.1M (pre-June 1).

The Saints won't be expected to contend in 2025, but Moore should have laid a solid foundation by the 2026 offseason.

It takes a village to raise a Super Bowl-caliber team. Who Moore brings with him will be just as crucial to the Saints as hiring him in the first place. 

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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