Unexpected facts about why Kellen Moore was passed over for the Cowboys head coaching position

The Dallas Cowboys have long been a team at the forefront of the NFL spotlight, with high expectations surrounding their performance and management year after year. One of the most recent and intriguing decisions made by the Cowboys’ ownership and front office was the passing over of Kellen Moore for the head coaching position, despite his established reputation as an offensive coordinator. As the Cowboys searched for a new head coach, the decision to look elsewhere, notably hiring Mike McCarthy in 2020, left many fans and analysts puzzled.

Kellen Moore, who had served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022, was considered a promising young mind within the league, and many saw him as a natural candidate for promotion within the organization. His rise as a coordinator, combined with his success working with Dak Prescott and developing high-powered offenses, made him a popular figure for head coach speculation. Yet, despite his credentials and success, Moore was not given the opportunity to lead the team in the capacity that many expected.

In this article, we will dive into the unexpected factors that played into the decision to pass over Kellen Moore for the Cowboys’ head coaching position. The analysis will take into account his coaching style, the dynamics within the Cowboys’ front office, and broader league trends that contributed to the decision, as well as how Moore’s future unfolded after being let go as offensive coordinator in 2023.

The Rise of Kellen Moore: A Brief Overview

Before delving into the reasons why Moore was passed over for the top job in Dallas, it’s important to revisit his rise within the organization. Kellen Moore was hired as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator in 2019 after spending several years as a backup quarterback in the NFL, including a brief tenure with the Cowboys. Despite not having a long playing career, Moore’s football IQ and leadership were respected by coaches and teammates alike.

Moore took over the Cowboys’ offense at a time when the team was looking for innovation and improvement after several years of stagnation. He quickly became known for implementing a high-powered, dynamic offense built around Dak Prescott’s strengths. Under Moore’s guidance, the Cowboys’ offense ranked among the best in the league, achieving significant success both in terms of yardage and points scored.

Moore’s ability to adapt the offense, increase tempo, and make use of versatile weapons like Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb was highly praised. He was considered a fresh, innovative mind who had the potential to lead a team not only as an offensive coordinator but also as a head coach in the future.

However, despite these successes, there were underlying factors within the Cowboys’ organization that led to Moore being passed over when the opportunity for a head coaching vacancy arose.

1. The Cowboys’ Organizational Politics and Jerry Jones’ Influence

One of the most significant and often unpredictable factors in the Dallas Cowboys’ decision-making processes is the influence of Jerry Jones, the team’s owner and general manager. Jones, a highly involved and outspoken figure in the NFL, has long been known for making personnel decisions based on his personal vision for the team. This influence has shaped much of the Cowboys’ coaching decisions over the years, and Kellen Moore’s candidacy for head coach was no exception.

While Moore had gained widespread acclaim for his offensive prowess, the decision to pass him over in favor of Mike McCarthy speaks to the underlying organizational politics at play. Jerry Jones has long maintained control over team decisions and has shown a tendency to favor veteran leadership over youthful, unproven candidates. McCarthy, a Super Bowl-winning coach, represented the more traditional choice, with Jones seeing McCarthy’s experience as essential for navigating the pressures of leading America’s Team.

Jones has always been more comfortable with coaches who have established track records in the NFL, particularly those with experience in high-pressure situations. McCarthy, having led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl title, was seen as a safe choice with a championship pedigree. Jones may have felt that Moore, despite his success as a coordinator, lacked the leadership experience necessary to handle the intense scrutiny and media attention that comes with being the Cowboys’ head coach.

Additionally, the Cowboys’ front office has often been described as a highly political environment, where power struggles and personalities often play a large role in decision-making. Moore, who was younger and had less experience, may have been seen as a less appealing candidate when weighed against McCarthy’s established reputation and leadership skills.

2. Lack of Leadership Experience and Concerns About Poise

While Kellen Moore was an offensive genius, one of the concerns about his candidacy for head coach was his relative lack of leadership experience. The role of a head coach in the NFL goes far beyond designing an offense or calling plays; it involves managing the entire roster, leading players through adversity, handling the media, and building a culture within the team.

Moore’s experience as a player, backup quarterback, and even offensive coordinator did not prepare him for the broader responsibilities of a head coach. While he had been the architect of an explosive offense, leading an entire team requires a different skill set, and some within the Cowboys organization felt that Moore had not yet demonstrated the level of maturity and emotional intelligence needed to be the leader of a franchise like Dallas.

Reports emerged that some within the organization were concerned about Moore’s ability to command the respect of the locker room and maintain control over all aspects of team management. Although Moore was respected as a tactician, he hadn’t had to lead men as a head coach, and that lack of experience was seen as a potential obstacle. The Cowboys have always been a high-profile team, and many within the organization may have doubted whether Moore could thrive in such a pressure-packed role.

3. Conflicting Views on Offensive Philosophy

Another crucial factor that led to Moore being passed over was a difference in offensive philosophy between him and the Cowboys’ ownership and front office. While Moore was widely praised for his offensive schemes, there were lingering concerns about his consistency and adaptability in high-stakes situations. In particular, some critics questioned whether Moore’s offense could evolve as defenses adapted to it.

Under Moore, the Cowboys’ offense thrived during the regular season, but in some critical playoff games, the offense struggled to perform at the same level. In the 2022 season, for example, Dallas faced challenges in high-pressure postseason games, including a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. While Moore was not solely responsible for the team’s playoff failures, some felt that his inability to adjust or establish a more balanced approach led to a lack of success in big moments.

Jerry Jones and other key figures in the Cowboys organization may have been looking for a head coach with a broader and more flexible vision for the offense—someone who could make the adjustments necessary to win in the postseason. Mike McCarthy, despite his own offensive limitations, was seen as someone with the experience and adaptability to lead in both regular-season and playoff games, something Moore had yet to prove.

4. Cultural Fit and Perception of a “Youth Movement”

In the NFL, particularly with the high-profile Dallas Cowboys, there are often questions about the cultural fit of a head coach. For Jerry Jones, who has been running the Cowboys for decades, the hiring of a younger coach like Kellen Moore may have felt like a break from tradition. There’s a longstanding belief in Dallas that the team needs a more established, veteran presence at the helm to keep the squad focused on winning championships, not just putting up impressive offensive numbers.

Mike McCarthy’s hire in 2020 was seen, in part, as an effort to bring stability and experience to a team that had underperformed despite having significant talent. With a younger coach like Moore, there was concern that the team’s culture might veer toward a “youth movement” or a focus on developing players rather than competing for titles right away.

Furthermore, McCarthy’s coaching experience and ability to manage a variety of personalities in the locker room were considered key attributes that the Cowboys’ front office believed were necessary to return the team to the Super Bowl. The perception may have been that Moore, while talented, would take longer to establish the cultural authority needed to be a championship-caliber head coach.

5. Kellen Moore’s Future After Leaving Dallas

After being let go as offensive coordinator in 2023, Kellen Moore found a new opportunity as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. His move to the Chargers signals that Moore’s potential as a coach is far from over. The Chargers, led by head coach Brandon Staley, are in need of a high-powered offense to complement their defense, and Moore’s appointment as OC is a vote of confidence in his ability to produce a dynamic and innovative attack.

For Moore, the opportunity in Los Angeles offers a fresh start and a chance to showcase his abilities on a new stage. The Chargers have one of the league’s most talented quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, and Moore will have a chance to work with him and a strong supporting cast to build a potent offense. If Moore can succeed in Los Angeles, his candidacy for head coach positions down the line could be even stronger.