The New Orleans Saints' 2025 season was anything but predictable, and at the center of it all stood first-year head coach Kellen Moore. What started as a frustrating campaign turned into something much more promising once Moore made a pivotal quarterback switch - and now, as coaching seats heat up across the league, Moore’s job looks surprisingly stable.
Let’s rewind. The Saints opened the season 1-7, and at that point, it looked like Moore’s debut year might spiral out of control.
But behind the scenes, he was developing rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, and that decision ended up reshaping the season. Once Shough took over as starter in Week 9, the Saints’ offense found new life.
The team closed out the year going 5-4 with Shough under center, including a four-game win streak that gave fans a glimpse of what could be coming next.
Moore’s decision to bench Spencer Rattler in favor of the rookie wasn’t just about changing quarterbacks - it was about recalibrating the team’s identity. Shough brought a different energy to the offense, and Moore adjusted accordingly, showing flexibility and a willingness to adapt - two traits that matter a lot when evaluating a head coach’s long-term potential.
That final stretch of the season, while not enough to get New Orleans into the postseason, was enough to shift the narrative. The Saints ended the year with momentum, and that matters - especially in a league where how you finish can weigh just as heavily as how you start.
And let’s not forget the context Moore walked into. When he took the job, the Saints were in a tough spot financially, with a roster in transition and no clear answer at quarterback after Derek Carr’s unexpected retirement.
Moore had to navigate a challenging cap situation and a QB room that included a rookie and a second-year player still trying to find his footing. That’s not exactly a plug-and-play scenario for success.
Yet Moore weathered the storm. He kept the locker room together during a brutal first half of the season, and when things started to click, his players responded. That buy-in from the roster - especially during a 6-11 season - says a lot about Moore’s leadership.
Now, when you look at where Moore stands among NFL head coaches in terms of job security, he’s in a solid spot. He may not be among the elite just yet - the playoff regulars and Super Bowl contenders still sit comfortably at the top - but Moore has carved out a respectable place for himself. He’s not just holding on; he’s building something.
The big question heading into 2026: Which version of Moore’s Saints will show up? The team that stumbled to a 2-10 record early on, or the one that rattled off four straight wins with a rookie QB and a banged-up roster? If you ask the Saints, they’ll likely tell you it’s all the same coach - a guy who stayed the course, trusted his process, and helped a young team grow through adversity.
Moore’s first season didn’t deliver wins in bunches, but it did deliver something just as important: belief. Belief in a young quarterback, belief in a new system, and belief that this team might be closer to turning the corner than many expected. That’s a foundation worth building on - and one that should keep Moore firmly in place as the Saints look ahead.