The New Orleans Saints are closing in on their next head coach, with all signs pointing to Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as the likely choice.
Other candidates who have interviewed for the job in recent weeks, as well as their agents, were called Friday morning with confirmation that the Saints are moving on, team and league sources confirmed to The Athletic. New Orleans is planning to meet with Moore after the Super Bowl on Feb. 9. He can’t officially be hired until then.
Moore, 35, is one of only three candidates known to have taken multiple interviews with New Orleans this hiring cycle, including New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Among the other candidates were 2024 interim head coach Darren Rizzi, former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (hired by New York Jets), Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and former Stanford head coach David Shaw, who is joining the Detroit Lions as a pass game coordinator. Two candidates — Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy — pulled their names out of consideration during the process.
With uncertainty at quarterback and a roster currently $51 million over the league salary cap, the next Saints coach faces an uphill battle in snapping the team’s current four-year playoff drought. New Orleans hasn’t won the NFC South or more than nine games since the 2020 season. After a 5-12 finish this season, the Saints hold the No. 9 pick in April’s 2025 NFL Draft.
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