Today, Kellen Moore celebrates his first anniversary of being named head coach of the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans went 6-11 and finished in last place in the NFC South Division, but wins in four of the last five games and the breakout performance of rookie quarterback Tyler Shough generated a sea of optimism entering the offseason as the team rebounded from a 2-10 start.
Moore sat down with senior writer John DeShazier to talk about his first season in New Orleans.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore takes a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Day 1 with the franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore takes a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Day 1 with the franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore takes a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Day 1 with the franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore takes a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Day 1 with the franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore takes a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Day 1 with the franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore takes a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Day 1 with the franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore takes a tour of the Ochsner Sports Performance Center on Day 1 with the franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore attends the Pelicans game against the Kings on Day 1 with the Saints franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore attends the Pelicans game against the Kings on Day 1 with the Saints franchise on February 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore attends the Pelicans game against the Kings on Day 1 with the Saints franchise on February 12, 2025.
How different has this offseason been from last year?
(Chuckling) I've been looking forward to this offseason, just from the standpoint of stability and just continuing to build. Last year, we had a lot going on in a very short time frame. I appreciate the way (Executive Vice President/General Manager) Mickey (Loomis) and everyone kind of helped navigate that as we went through that process, just with hiring a staff, going through free agency, the draft and having a tight window for that. This year has been a great process, for us just to go back through, really review last year in so many ways and really dig into that — the things we did well, the things we want to improve on and then the normal offseason process that you get to go through.
Do you feel like you've exhaled? Do you have a chance to exhale?
There's always something going on. I think more than anything, it allows us to dig a little deeper into the previous season and also this upcoming season. What that time allows us to do is going to be very beneficial.
Did you learn much about yourself that you might not have known? Loomis said he was impressed by the way you handled changes, adversity.
I think that's part of it. I think obviously every role is going to be different. In this role, there's always going to be things coming up on a daily basis and you've got to have the ability to adjust based off the circumstances... whether it be roster discussions, team discussions, the day-to-day from a player perspective. We have a really good group, though.
Players said they were impressed by the way the locker room held together, and part of that was your knowledge of personal accomplishments. Is that something you're conscious of, that you seek out to acknowledge?
These guys work really, really hard. They put a lot into it. To play in the NFL, that's essentially everyone's dream, so it's a really special opportunity. With that comes a lot of challenges and adversities as you go through this. We're going to play the best of the best every single week — that's what the NFL is — and so I think it's important to acknowledge when things are going well, to highlight those things. We'll certainly attack the things that we need to improve on all the time, that's more of a natural approach for everyone, focusing on what we did wrong or what we need to improve on. But also, I think it's important to acknowledge the progress that these guys are making.
Having been an NFL player, how much did that help from a standpoint of knowing how you liked to be treated, and wanting to treat players that way?
I think more than anything, just being around a lot of different players, a lot of different coaches... there's a lot of different approaches that you can take. I think it's important to recognize that every player is at a different stage in their career, they have different temperaments and emotions and they're going through different challenges in life. There's a sympathy element of that, recognizing that you've got to find where the player is and hopefully help them become the best version of themselves.
Check out photos of New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore during his time in the NFL. Moore joins the Saints after winning Super Bowl LIX with the Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive coordinator and becomes the 19th head coach in franchise history.
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore watches from the sideline in an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Rams 28-22. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore confers with quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. The Eagles defeated the Rams 37-20. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles' Kellen Moore coaches during the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) talks to offensive coordinator Kellen Moore during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) speaks with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore looks on during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Friday, Sept. 7, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. The Eagles defeated the Packers, 34-29. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) talks with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, left, during the NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 26-18. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles' Kellen Moore coaches during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore talks to quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 in Inglewood, Calif. The Eagles defeated the Rams 37-20. (Greg Trott via AP)
Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Kellen Moore watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Browns 20-16. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore talks to the media during practice at NFL football training camp, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagle offensive coordinator Kellen Moore looks on during warm-ups prior to the NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) talks with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, right, during the NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 28-23. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) talks to offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 in Philadelphia. The Falcons defeated the Eagles 22-21. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore looks on during the NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 26-18. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore stands on the field during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 in Inglewood, Calif. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore paces the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 in Inglewood, Calif. The Eagles defeated the Rams 37-20. (Greg Trott via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore watches his players during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore stands on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore before an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore reads the playbook during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore points to his players during the NFL football team's camp Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore stands on the sideline during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore coaches against the Las Vegas Raiders in an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV. Raiders defeat the Chargers 63-21. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore reacts before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore stands on the sideline prior to the start of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore reacts against the New York Giants during an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Philadelphia. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 51-26. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore walks along the sideline in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
What did you like most about last season?
I think our guys' resiliency as a group collectively — to stick together through some challenges, some adverse situations. I thought that was really a credit to Mickey and the personnel department and the coaching staff, and the entire organization, having really good people in the building. I think when you have those type of people it gives you a chance to keep competing and keep getting better.
As you prepare for next season, how much do you reflect on last season? Or how much do you separate from it, since there's no guarantee that momentum carries over to the next season?
Ultimately, offseasons, you always start back at step one. Now, are there some habits that we created, are there some formulas that we've been able to emphasize to show winning football on the back end of the year? Absolutely. And I think those habits can be continued to build off of. So I think that's really important. Winning is a habit and winning is an expectation and you've got to get used to it by doing it. I appreciate the way our guys finished and the way we kept battling. And hopefully some of that can carry through what they are doing during the offseason in their own time and then when we all get back together. We just keep going.
I appreciate the way our guys finished and the way we kept battling. New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore
How much did Tyler Shough grow as the season progressed?
Like so many players on our team, (he) just got better each and every week. Keep getting better — that's on the field, that's off the field, that's practice habits, the preparation habits. There's a lot of things from a young player standpoint that you're going to get better at, and I think Tyler certainly has done a really good job of that. And then finding his leadership space in this entire thing is an important aspect.
You were hired during carnival season and it's here again on your anniversary. How much have you been able to immerse into the culture and carnival season?
We enjoy it. This is really our first true offseason to be here, so we're really excited about that — to just spend a little bit more time as a family around this community and enjoy it.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore arrives with his family in New Orleans ahead of his first day with the franchise on February 11, 2025.
