The New Orleans Saints haven't been the same since Sean Payton walked away from his head coaching job. But the legendary figure believes Kellen Moore is the man to bring the good times back.
Moore might not have been everyone's first choice. There were rumors around Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury being high on their shortlist before he stayed put. New Orleans pivoted quickly, finally giving the former Boise State quarterback the top opportunity he'd been waiting for.
The Saints have a lot of hard work ahead. This is not the perennial contender Payton oversaw. They were devoid of confidence and inspiration last season, finishing with the same 5-12 record as the lowly Carolina Panthers in the NFC South. Moore has a big job on his hands, but it's one he's sure to relish.
Sean Payton believes Kellen Moore has what it takes to turn the Saints around
Payton's glowing recommendation of Moore should fire up fans who are still on the fence about the hire. The Super Bowl winner thought his calm presence could help him cope with some unique challenges. He also thought this was a pretty good job for the up-and-coming figure to begin his NFL head coaching journey.
"Generally, you're going somewhere it's broken. And you've got to fix it quick. And I think Kellen has that calmness about him. I think there's a uniqueness to that city that maybe is not for everyone, but I think he'll do well there. … You can have impossible jobs or good jobs. And I think in this case, he's got a good job."Sean Payton via SI
Moore is a confident, unassuming character. He's riding on the crest of a wave after winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles as offensive coordinator and is ready for this significant opportunity. There are some concerns about the current playing personnel as things stand, but they do have nine selections during the 2025 NFL Draft to further strengthen the ranks.
Nobody is expecting miracles from Moore in Year 1 of his tenure. This will be a gradual process back into contention, although the NFC South isn't exactly loaded with playoff challengers. As we all know, anything can happen if the Saints pick up some early momentum when competitive action commences.
This is almost entirely dependent on Derek Carr. The veteran signal-caller has underwhelmed to date but is getting one final chance to prove himself under Moore's guidance. Any more failings won't be tolerated, so this new dynamic between coach and quarterback must work for things to start trending positively.
Payton thinks Moore has what it takes. Fans are keeping an open mind, but they are quietly optimistic that this could be the start of a profitable relationship.
