Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore won’t be back with the Cowboys. Kellen Moore’s departure as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys follows four successful seasons in which the team’s offense finished in the top 10 on three separate occasions.
According to a statement released by Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy late on Sunday, the Cowboys and Moore “mutually decided to part ways” after going through the end-of-season review process and talking things over.
When McCarthy accepted the head coaching position in Dallas in 2020, he knew it would be in Dak Prescott’s best interest to keep offensive coordinator Kellen Moore around. In Moore’s first season with the Cowboys, the team had the best offense regarding yards per game, and Prescott threw for 4,902 yards.
According to ESPN’s sources, decisions have yet to be made regarding McCarthy’s potential promotion to play-caller.
In 2021, after Prescott had recovered from a dislocated and fractured right ankle suffered in 2020, the Cowboys’ offense ranked first in yards and points per game. Despite Prescott missing five games with a broken thumb in 2022, the Cowboys still managed to rank fourth in points per game and eleventh in yards.
“I want to thank Kellen for his deep commitment, hard work, and dedication that were core components of his time with the Cowboys,” McCarthy said. “Kellen’s impact was felt most strongly in the production of our offense and his mentoring of Dak,” the team said.
In 2012, Jason Garrett was the last Cowboys head coach to make play calls. After that season, owner and GM Jerry Jones requested that Garrett step away from his role and devote his time to the team. In 2013, Bill Callahan was the play caller, then from 2014 to 2018, Scott Linehan did it, and now Moore has taken over.
Moore, who was in the final year of his contract, interviewed for the head coaching position with the Carolina Panthers last week, but the job went to Frank Reich instead. According to a reliable source, Moore has been asked to speak with the Los Angeles Chargers about the team’s rumored offensive coordinator vacancy.
Moore was a finalist for the Miami Dolphins head coaching job last year, but Mike McDaniel ultimately won. Moore withdrew his name from consideration in 2020 for the head coaching position at Boise State, his alma mater.
Doug Nussmeier, the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach, will also not be back once his contract expires.
While with the Cowboys, “Doug is the consummate professional and brought a level of football insight, enthusiasm, and focus to work every day that helped everyone he worked with,” said McCarthy.
During his 13 years with the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy was in charge of game strategy and played calling. His decision to keep Moore as play-caller in 2020 was surprising given that he had previously given up those responsibilities in 2015 but had since resumed them and promised to do so for the rest of his time as the Packers’ coach.
McCarthy coached two Green Bay Packers quarterbacks, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, who rarely threw interceptions. In 2005, Favre had 29 interceptions, but in 2006 and 2007, he only had 18 and 15, respectively. Since taking over as the team’s starting quarterback in 2008, Rodgers has never had more than 13 and only twice has he reached double digits (2008, 2010).
Despite missing those five games, Prescott tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with 15. However, in the previous season, he had set a new team record by throwing for 37 touchdowns while only throwing ten interceptions.
Considering his experience as a consultant for the Cowboys in 2022, Brian Schottenheimer is a possible candidate for the coordinator position.
McCarthy let six coaches know they wouldn’t be returning after the Cowboys’ divisional round loss to the San Francisco 49ers: assistant head coach Rob Davis, senior defensive assistant George Edwards, running backs coach Skip Peete, offensive line coach Joe Philbin, quality control coach Kyle Valero, and assistant defensive line coach Leon Lett.
