FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys’ head coaching search has begun with a few candidates emerging from the rest. Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is among those names and appears to be the early favorite.
A key factor when it comes to the Cowboys and head coaching searches is the connection to The Star, an area where Moore ranks above his competitors for this opening.
Moore spent the final three years of his NFL career in the Cowboys’ quarterback room before transitioning to a role on the coaching staff. That time largely coincided with the start and continuation of the Dak Prescott era in Dallas.
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Altogether, his resumé gives Jerry Jones and staff good reason to reunite with their former offensive coordinator. Yet, many questions remain about his ability to fulfill the job as a play caller and leader.
Some stem from how he fits what the Cowboys need but others call back to his first stint in Dallas with concern of how has changed to become the right fit for the job. These gripes come not only from the fan base, but former Cowboys players who remain connected with the team.
Following the end of the 2022 season, former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith commented his feelings about how the offense operated under Moore’s watch, saying, “Under Kellen, we were just calling damn plays just to be calling plays. We weren’t building on anything.”
Moore has found success this year with a potent Eagles offense, yet his best single-season campaign as a coach cannot shake the truth about his candidacy for the Cowboys job.
Is that a shocking take? There is a palpable lack of trust when it comes to Moore. He has shown glimpses of brilliance in his work as a coordinator, but leading a locker room and managing that duty at the same time make for an entirely different challenge that he has not proven capable of handling.
Perhaps Jerry and the Cowboys are fine with overlooking that lack of experience and believing in his growth in the past two years away from the franchise. But that means taking a significant gamble at a key moment for the franchise.
