Calls Mount Againt Gayle Benson’s Press Conference Blunder After Kellen Moore Cleared Stance on Derek Carr’s Future

The NFC South never sleeps. While the Atlanta Falcons wrestle with Kirk Cousins’ contract and Michael Penix Jr.’s future, their archrivals in New Orleans have decided to spice things up this week. Picture this: a shiny new head coach, fresh off a Super Bowl win, ready to revive a stumbling franchise…

But before someone could ask the first question, the Saints’ owner fumbled the opening snap. Cue the memes, the chaos, and a quarterback’s future hanging by a thread. Let’s just say, the Big Easy isn’t feeling so easy right now.

Thursday’s press conference was supposed to mark a new era for the Saints. Instead, owner Gayle Benson kicked things off by accidentally introducing 36-year-old Kellen Moore as “Ellen Moore.” “When we began this coaching search, we were all aligned. We wanted a coach that was exceptionally bright, creative, and most importantly, a tremendous leader,” Benson said. And then she added…

“I believe that is exactly what we have with Ellen Moore.” The slip-up went viral instantly, with fans roasting the moment as a “sign of things to come.” Moore, who led the Eagles’ offense to a 40-22 Super Bowl LIX win just days earlier, didn’t pay heed. But the real drama unfolded elsewhere.

It was when he sidestepped questions about Derek Carr’s future. “Derek is a tremendous quarterback… I’m excited to team up with him and go through this process,” Moore said, avoiding any commitment to Carr as the 2025 starter. However, the Saints aren’t just battling memes. They’re 54.1 million over the salary cap—the worst in the NFL.

Carr, who went 5−5 as a starter last season before a hand injury, carries a 51.45 million cap hit. He’s refused pay cuts but hinted at restructuring: “I’ll always help the team that way… but there’s some things that you put out there that you earned.” Moore’s arrival adds fuel to the fire. Rookie Spencer Rattler (0-6 as a starter) waits in the wings, but is he the answer?

Moore’s comments on Carr were diplomatic yet deliberate “[We’ll] go through this process [with Carr]—just like any player on this roster,” he added. Carr’s stats (15 TDs, 5 INTs in 2024) weren’t awful, but the Saints’ 0-7 skid without him exposed deeper flaws. With Alvin Kamara aging and Taysom Hill’s role uncertain, Moore’s play-calling magic faces its biggest test.

Moore’s track record is stellar. He turned the Eagles into a top-10 offense and out-dueled Andy Reid’s Chiefs in the Super Bowl. But New Orleans is a tougher puzzle. Injuries plagued the 2024 squad, and Dennis Allen’s mid-season firing left a leadership void. GM Mickey Loomis admitted the coaching search dragged because “the Eagles kept winning.”

Now, Kellen Moore must assemble a staff, navigate cap hell, and decide if Carr—or a cheaper alternative—gives the Saints their best shot. However, fans are not sitting straight.

Fan fury and the “Ellen” era of Moore

Social media erupted faster than a Drew Brees touchdown pass. One fan photoshopped Kellen Moore alongside Ellen DeGeneres with the caption: “I present to you, the next Head Coaches of the New Orleans Saints, Ellen Moore.” Others mocked Benson’s gaffe: “First female head coach W” and “How could this go wrong?” Some brought history into the mix.

“This franchise never recovered from that Rams playoff loss.” Meanwhile, one wrote, “Gayle, come on, lady, you’re embarrassing, what are you doing?” The Saints’ rocky PR week overshadowed Moore’s credentials, but fans are split. Can humor heal a fractured fanbase? Or is this another chapter in New Orleans’ post-Brees slump?

Carr’s deal complicates everything. His $30 million salary for 2025 is a cap-strangled team’s nightmare. While he’s open to restructuring, he told ESPN: “I’m super confident… I could get anywhere else to play.” Translation: Carr won’t bend easily. If Moore wants a reset, trading Carr (and eating dead cap) or drafting a QB might be the path. Umm! That sounded anything but simple. Meanwhile, with no first-round pick until 2026, options are slim.

The Falcons loom with Penix Jr., the Panthers are rebuilding, and the Bucs are cash-strapped. The Saints’ division hopes aren’t dead—if Moore stabilizes the ship. But his immediate focus is staffing. He’ll call offensive plays, leaving the defense to a yet-to-be-named coordinator. But Can “Ellen” Moore Turn Laughter Into Wins?

New Orleans loves an underdog story, but this one’s layered with irony. A coach accidentally renamed a QB in limbo, and a cap sheet screaming for mercy. Moore’s challenge isn’t just fixing X’s and O’s—it’s uniting a franchise under a cloud of doubt. Benson’s “full commitment” rings hollow if financial flexibility stays frozen. As the Saints’ 2025 roster takes shape, one question lingers: In a league where margins are razor-thin, can Kellen Moore make fans forget “Ellen” and believe in Kellen? Or will this blunder define his tenure before it even begins?

What’s your take—can humor and hustle save the Saints?