The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a head coach—someone who understands the immense pressure and spotlight that comes with the job. They require a leader capable of managing the egos of high-profile stars like quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Few candidates fit this description better than Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Moore is no stranger to the Cowboys organization or owner Jerry Jones, having spent eight seasons in Dallas in various roles: as a backup quarterback from 2015 to 2017, quarterbacks coach in 2018, and offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022.
After the Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy parted ways following five seasons, Moore’s name is likely to surface at the top of any list of potential candidates.
“The hot coordinator is Ben Johnson, the trick-play wizard of the Lions’ offense,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on January 13. “Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has worked for Jones in the past. But if Jones is inclined to follow the common approach of finding someone who is the exact opposite of his last coach, Jones could look to a younger defensive coach. (He hasn’t had a coach with a defensive background since Wade Phillips.)”
Moore’s impressive success with the Eagles only strengthens his case. Under his guidance in 2024, the Eagles finished with a 14-3 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs. Moore’s offense featured a 2,000-yard All-Pro running back in Saquon Barkley, an All-Pro wide receiver in A.J. Brown, and two All-Pro offensive linemen in tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.
Moore’s Career Took an Uncertain Turn
A few years ago, Kellen Moore seemed destined to become an NFL head coach. His rapid ascent to the role of offensive coordinator for the Cowboys in 2019 at just 30 years old was remarkable. Over four seasons, he led one of the league’s top four offenses before being dismissed after a 12-5 regular season and an early playoff exit.
Moore’s next role, as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers under Brandon Staley in 2023, did not go as planned.
However, Moore’s arrival in Philadelphia as offensive coordinator in 2024 marked a significant rebound. Despite moving through three jobs in as many years, Moore has reestablished himself as a strong candidate for a head coaching role.
On December 6, ESPN’s Dan Graziano included Moore in his list of the Top 10 NFL head coaching candidates for 2025. Graziano speculated that Moore could be a natural fit for the Cowboys if they moved on from McCarthy.
“A couple of years ago, Moore was a popular enough candidate that he seemed on the verge of landing a head-coaching job,” Graziano wrote. “Moore has rebounded in his first season in Philadelphia, designing and calling one of the league’s most explosive offenses … If the Cowboys move on from Mike McCarthy, could Moore be a candidate to return to Dallas in the big job?”
As of 2024, Moore is the NFL’s third highest-paid coordinator, earning $2.5 million per year, according to Front Office Sports.
