Up until Monday, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was in the driver’s seat to land the New Orleans Saints vacant head coach position. He had just given a second strong in-person interview, and it looked like the Saints were finally getting their man at the helm. However, since those rumors, things have drastically changed in the Saints’ pursuit of Moore. Right now, they are not even sure the Eagles OC will prefer the Saints job or not because of one issue.

As per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Moore is having second thoughts about accepting the Saints’ job because of their dire QB situation. On her Scoop City podcast, she described the situation as a ‘scuttlebutt’, “There was a little scuttlebutt about whether or not Kellen would want this job. And it’s due to the fact they don’t have a quarterback there already in place. That was concerning.” See, here’s the QB room that has seemingly pushed away Moore from the Saints head coach gig.

Their starter, Derek Carr, only played 10 games this season, passing for just 2,145 yards and 15 TDs. Without him, the Saints didn’t win a single game under their backup QBs Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener. You know what that means—the Saints won just 5 games all season and lost 7 when Carr wasn’t there. Seeing how he underperformed whenever given the opportunity to start—it isn’t really surprising that Moore still needs time to think about the Saints’ job.

However, it’s not like moving on from Carr would be an issue. The Saints owe him $51M this year for the $150M contract he signed in 2025. And cutting him from their roster post-June 1st would probably help the Saints save $30M. But it isn’t like they can offer Rattler or Haener the starting jobs next season.

Considering they could even deliver a single win together, the Saints have some real issues in hand. But you know what they say—there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Amidst the negatives of Moore moving to New Orleans. There is some leniency the Saints are ready to offer the Eagles OC if he does accept the job, “There’s also an understanding throughout the league that the New Orleans Saints need another year to rebuild this things…They’re not expecting Kellen Moore to come in here, let’s just say and get the job, and turn this whole thing around,” per Russini. So, right now, only time will tell whether the Saints do get their hands on Moore. Because if they don’t, it would be a dual blow in their hopes of securing a head coach after Mike McCarthy’s refusal.

Mike McCarthy pulls himself out of the Saints’ search for head coach

McCarthy was touted as a real possibility to land the Saints’ job because of his previous link with New Orleans. He had been an OC for them from 2000 to 2004 and probably knew about New Orleans a bit more than others. So, the moment the Cowboys didn’t renew his contract, rumors started flying around about McCarthy’s possible comeback to New Orleans. However, a few days later, McCarthy decided he wouldn’t coach in the NFL this season. When the Bears snubbed him while the Saints remained his only realistic option. He decided, Nah, I would just wait for next year’s coaching cycle to come around. See, McCarthy could have a game-changing hire for the Saints, who are yet to find a head coach. The former Cowboys head coach was coming off a 49-35 record in Dallas across 5 seasons. He even boasts a .618 winning percentage over the 13 seasons he has been a coach in the NFL.

Even before leaving Dallas, McCarthy set the record straight on his capabilities as a head coach, “I don’t like to talk about myself that way. But I’ll just be clear: I’m a winner. I know how to win. I’ve a championship. I won a championship in this building. And that’s who I am. We’ll see where it goes.” The problem with McCarthy was he did deliver 3 consecutive 12-win seasons. But failed to make the NFC Championship game even once.

That’s where his limitations were exposed as the Cowboys sent him packing out of Dallas. As for the Saints, their concerns still exist in landing a good head coach. Missing on Kellen Moore after McCarthy’s walkout could probably throw the Saints’ rebuild under the bus before it even begins.