Chargers hire Kellen Moore as OC, to face Cowboys in 2023
A sizable contingent of Cowboys fans couldn’t wait to be rid of Kellen Moore.
The Los Angeles Chargers, on the other hand, couldn’t move fast enough to hire him.
The ex-offensive coordinator has come to terms with the Chargers to occupy the same role. That move comes less than 24 hours after Dallas announced a parting of the ways with the play-caller who had served in that capacity for four seasons.
Before that, Moore had been the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach for one year and a backup quarterback on their roster for three seasons.
The 34-year-old, thought to be one of the brightest young offensive minds in football, replaces Joe Lombardi in Los Angeles, who was fired after the Chargers’ second-half collapse versus Jacksonville in the AFC wild-card round of the playoffs.
Former #Cowboys OC Kellen Moore is expected to become the #Chargers OC, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. The talented play-caller goes from Dak Prescott to Justin Herbert, a quick move after his departure from Dallas. pic.twitter.com/rgo99lA3YL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2023
The Cowboys offense was the NFL’s best in 2021, leading all teams in points scored and yards gained. This season, with quarterback Dak Prescott missing five games due to a fractured throwing thumb and a depleted wide receiving corps, Moore’s unit finished fourth leaguewide in points and 11th in yards.
Quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers ranked third-best in the league in passing yardage, but third-worst in rushing yards.
The L.A. club had already requested permission to speak with Moore about the offensive coordinator job prior to Sunday’s news out of Dallas regarding his departure, a move the Cowboys classified as “a mutual decision.”
Moore had previously interviewed with several teams for a head coaching position: the Eagles in 2021, the Vikings and Dolphins in 2022, and the Panthers earlier this month. He reportedly “really, really stood out in his interviews” with Carolina, but the team opted to hire Frank Reich instead.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said last week that Moore’s future with the organization would “be evaluated,” but he’s now the eighth Dallas assistant who won’t be returning to the staff next season.
The Cowboys are slated to play the Chargers at SoFi Stadium during the 2023 regular season.
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