Kellen Moore was a part of the Dallas Cowboys organization for eight seasons as a quarterback, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator. After leading Boise State to 50 wins in four seasons, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions. Moore joined the Cowboys in 2015 to backup Tony Romo and started two games that season.
In 2016, Moore broke his ankle during training camp, and Romo was injured in a preseason game. Without Moore, the team turned to rookie Dak Prescott to be the starting quarterback. After playing one more season, Moore joined the team as a quarterbacks coach.
Kellen Moore’s Time as Cowboys Offensive Coordinator
Moore, who was 29 years old at the time, was promoted to Cowboys offensive coordinator under head coach Jason Garrett for the 2019 season. In his first year, Dallas led the league with 431.5 total net yards per game, the most by any offense since the 2013 Denver Broncos.
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Moore remained the offensive coordinator when Mike McCarthy replaced Garrett as head coach for the 2020 season. Prescott suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5, and the offense dropped to 14th in total yards per game and 17th in points scored.
With Prescott back, Moore’s offense led the league with 407 total yards per game and scoring offense with 31.2 per game. The Cowboys went 12-5 and won the NFC East before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs.
In 2022, the Cowboys offense dropped to 11th in total yards per game and fourth in points per game. Dallas finished with a 12-5 record in the NFC East and won a Wild Card game before falling to the 49ers once more.
After the season, McCarthy said it was a “mutual decision to part ways” with Moore as offensive coordinator. Moore was hired the next day as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Moore’s Chargers Offense and Cowboys Offense
Entering Week 14, the Chargers offense is 15th in total yards per game and 11th in points per game. Last season under Joe Lombardi, Los Angeles was ninth in total yards per game and 13th in points per game. Lombardi was fired after the Chargers lost a Wild Card game to the Jacksonville Jaguars after they led 27-0.
The Justin Herbert-led Los Angeles offense has stalled over the past three weeks, scoring only 36 points while losing two of the games. The only win was last week, when the Chargers beat the New England Patriots 6-0.
McCarthy hired Brian Schottenheimer to replace Moore as the Cowboys offensive coordinator this season. McCarthy has taken on the responsibility of calling plays, a role he handled at times when he was head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in training camp, “I think this is a heckuva way to do it. I think we’re going to get a lot out of this.”
The Cowboys refer to their offense as “The Texas Coast” under McCarthy’s playing calling. Heading into Week 14, the Cowboys lead the league with 32.3 points per game and are fifth with 380.4 total yards per game.
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