Kellen Moore, the mastermind behind the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense during their recent Super Bowl victory, has officially signed on to become the new head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

At just 36 years old, Moore is stepping into a challenging role with an organization that has struggled since the retirement of legendary quarterback Drew Brees and the exit of Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton. The Saints have not reached the playoffs since the 2020 season, which marked Brees’ final year.

The Saints’ growing interest in Moore was clear as they took their time filling the head coach position, the longest wait of any NFL team this year.

Moore stood out as the only assistant coach from either Super Bowl team who was interviewed by the Saints. Due to league policies, he was the only candidate who could not be officially hired until after the championship game concluded. The Saints announced their agreement with Moore on Tuesday.

This choice reflects a trend among NFL franchises that have found success by appointing relatively young offensive-minded coaches. Notable examples include Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams, Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, Mike McDaniel in Miami, and 2024 AP Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, all of whom were hired in their 30s.

“I am excited to face the upcoming challenges and can’t wait to get started,” Moore expressed in a statement from the team, with an official introduction planned for Thursday.

Moore, a talented former college quarterback at Boise State, spent six years as either a practice squad or backup quarterback with the Lions (2012-2014) and Cowboys (2015-2017), seeing playing time in just three games, all with Dallas in 2015.

He transitioned into coaching in 2018 as a quarterbacks coach, moving up to offensive coordinator by 2019. After leaving Dallas for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, he later joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.

Initially known for his preference for pass-heavy strategies, Moore adapted his style while working with the Eagles this season.

Understanding Philadelphia’s strength as a run team—with a dominant offensive line, standout running back Saquon Barkley, and mobile quarterback Jalen Hurts—Moore guided an impressive running game that ranked second in the NFL in 2024.

The Eagles achieved a franchise-record 3,048 rushing yards, with Barkley leading the charge with 2,005 yards and contributing another 499 yards in four playoff matches. When the Chiefs contained Barkley to just 57 rushing yards in the Super Bowl, Moore effectively employed timely passing plays, including touchdowns to DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown.

Moore now inherits an offense that includes versatile running back Alvin Kamara and promising receiver Chris Olave.

While attending the Super Bowl, Moore emphasized his coaching philosophy of leveraging player strengths in his play-calling approach.

“From a coaching standpoint, you have certain philosophies you believe in, but it’s crucial to play to your players’ strengths,” Moore noted. “Having transitioned through different teams, we’ve embraced various styles, making it enjoyable to build the offense together.”

Quarterback Derek Carr, who has two years remaining on his contract, faces uncertainty regarding his future with the Saints, especially following two consecutive seasons without playoff appearances.

Moore’s appointment marks the second head coach for the Saints since Payton’s brief retirement after the 2021 season, during which New Orleans finished with a 9-8 record, narrowly missing the playoffs—now extending to four seasons without a postseason berth.

Payton’s former defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, took over in 2021 but concluded his tenure with an 18-25 record across two and a half seasons before being dismissed following a seven-game losing streak.

Darren Rizzi, who served as special teams coordinator under both Payton and Allen, led the team on an interim basis, achieving a 3-5 record.

Rizzi expressed interest in cementing his role with the Saints and interviewed for the head coach position after the season. Other candidates included Miami Dolphins coordinator Anthony Weaver, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, and Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

Former coaches Mike McCarthy from Dallas and Green Bay were also expected to interview for the position but withdrew their candidacies shortly after Brady’s departure.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni loses another key member of his coaching staff after reaching the Super Bowl. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left after the 2022 season to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, currently with a 12-22 record over two seasons. Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, who departed around the same time to coach the Indianapolis Colts, holds a 17-17 record in his first two years.