The drive from Metairie, La., to Mobile, Ala., is a little more than two hours. But this year, the Saints took a slight detour to Philadelphia. Before arriving at this week’s Senior Bowl practices, the team reportedly met late into Monday night with Kellen Moore.
Understandably, the Eagles’ offensive coordinator had a tight window of availability between preparations for Super Bowl LIX. Per Nick Underhill and Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football, the Saints don’t have plans to interview anyone else, including Mike McCarthy. The former Cowboys and Packers head coach withdrew his name from consideration Tuesday night, choosing instead to focus on the 2026 hiring cycle.
But the truth, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s search, is the Saints never scheduled an interview with McCarthy. Plus, the source said, the Saints never requested permission from the Commanders to interview offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, believing he would stay in Washington with Jayden Daniels. Before Kingsbury committed to Washington, he paused all interviews with NFL suitors.
Instead, the Saints believe they have their next head coach among four finalists: Moore, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and their own interim head coach Darren Rizzi. And because they’ve conducted in-person interviews with both Kafka and Weaver, they’ve complied with the league’s Rooney Rule.
Should the Saints select Moore, his agent can begin contract negotiations immediately. However, if Moore is their selection, he wouldn’t be able to accept an offer until after the Eagles face off with the Chiefs on Feb. 9 – ironically in New Orleans. In fact, the Eagles are scheduled to arrive this weekend and use the Saints’ team headquarters while in Southern Louisiana. Moore wouldn’t have to leave the city should he choose to remain.
“Moore had an impressive interview with the Saints,” Underhill and Triplett wrote, “and was able to put forth a cohesive plan on the team’s operations and personnel and how he would help get the team back on track after New Orleans only won five games last season. Sources said he made a strong impression during the meeting, which carried on past midnight and into early Tuesday.”
But the other three also had impressive interviews. Weaver earned his current post with the Dolphins after unprecedented success with the Ravens, where he’d served as assistant head coach and defensive line coach. In 2023, Baltimore became the first defense in NFL annals to finish a season No. 1 in three categories: Points allowed per game (16.5), sacks (60) and takeaways (31, tied with the N.Y. Giants).
Rizzi, one of the league’s most respected special teams coordinators, took over as the Saints’ interim head coach on Nov. 4 and won three of his first four games. After the season, several Saints players were sure to endorse Rizzi as their choice for head coach, including Alvin Kamara.
Kafka drove to Mobile from Metairie on Saturday after conducting his in-person interview with the Saints. The Giants’ offensive coordinator is gaining valuable experience this week as the head coach of the National Team at the Senior Bowl. He also conducted a head-coach interview with the Bears before Chicago hired Ben Johnson.
Whoever the Saints select, history will be on the side of the team. In 10 of the last 12 hiring cycles, the last head coach officially hired has enjoyed early success. Dan Quinn, the last head coach hired a year ago, led his team to the NFC Championship Game in Year 1.
Two years ago, the Cardinals hired another Eagles coordinator, Jonathan Gannon, after Philadelphia played in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs on the Cardinals’ home field.
The Saints have 10 selections — all in the first five rounds — of the upcoming draft. They’re scheduled to select ninth in the first round.
For more information on the Saints or the NFL hiring cycle, visit the New Orleans team page and the Coach/GM Carousel page at ProFootballPost.com.
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