Cowboys make Kellen Moore move decisively worse with latest report

The Dallas Cowboys officially parted ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. As it turns out, this news was even worse than imaginable based on this latest report.

After the Dallas Cowboys’ Divisional Round elimination by the San Francisco 49ers, owner Jerry Jones said that the game would have no impact on head coach Mike McCarthy’s status with the organization. Days afterwards, the Cowboys were informed by defensive coordinator Dan Quinn that he was opting against pursuing a head coaching job for the second consecutive year and he would return for 2023. While McCarthy and Quinn are returning, one big name on the coaching staff isn’t.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Cowboys and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore mutually agreed to part ways. Moore was the offensive play-caller for the Cowboys.

So that leaves the question — who will call plays on offense now?

Well, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports that McCarthy will now call plays on offense with Moore no longer in the picture.

Kellen Moore out, Mike McCarthy to call plays for Cowboys offense

In the Dallas Morning News article, it points out that while McCarthy did call plays on offense while he was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, he didn’t want to assume the responsibility when joining the Cowboys, citing that he wanted to keep everything in place. But after a disappointing end to the season, Dallas and Moore opted to move on from one another.

Moore had been with Dallas since 2015 when he was a backup quarterback. But after the 2017 season, Moore transitioned from playing to coaching. After being the quarterbacks coach in 2018, Moore took over as the offensive coordinator in 2019, a position he has held through the 2022 season.

This season, the Cowboys offense ranked 11th in total yards per game (354.9) and fourth in points scored per game (fourth).

As for McCarthy, he has not called played since his head coaching tenure with the Packers, which spanned from the 2006 until 2018. Now, Cowboys fans will know who to focus their attention on if the offense doesn’t perform next season.

Moore isn’t the only coach on the offensive side of the football who won’t be returning next season. Offensive line coach Joe Philbin and running backs coach Skip Peete did not get their contracts renewed.

As for what’s next for Moore, NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport noted that he is expected to speak with the Los Angeles Chargers for their offensive coordinator vacancy, while also bringing up expected interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who fired Byron Leftwich after this season.

The Cowboys have made changes this offseason. McCarthy will stay and call plays, while Moore will be looking for a gig elsewhere in the league.