And then there was none.
After a lengthy interview process, the New Orleans Saints have chosen Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as their next head coach, agreeing to a deal that was expected for more than a week.
It marked the final remaining head coaching vacancy.
“I look forward to embracing the challenges ahead and am eager to get started,” Moore, whose formal introduction is scheduled for Thursday, said in a statement released by the club.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni implored Moore to stay with the team after the Eagles’ Super Bowl triumph over the Chiefs — with some humor attached — although those cries went unanswered.
“Kellen, you know, let’s run this s–t back, Kellen,” Sirianni said as the Lombardi Trophy was presented to the team. “Let’s run this back.”
Moore spurned the opportunity to chase a second straight Super Bowl with the Eagles after he led one of the league’s best offenses that averaged 29 points per game, ranking fourth.
The Eagles will now be in search of a new offensive coordinator, with pᴀssing game coordinator and ᴀssociate head coach Kevin Patullo a possible candidate.
Moore finally landed a head coaching gig after emerging as a candidate during the 2019-22 hiring cycles when he served as the offensive coordinator for the Dak Prescott-led Cowboys.
He joined the Chargers for the 2023 season before heading to Philadelphia.
Before he became a coach, Moore was a four-time first-team All-American while playing quarterback at Boise State and was the school’s first Heisman Trophy Finalist.
His staff may already be taking shape with former Chargers coach Brandon Staley, who employed Moore as his offensive coordinator during the 2023 season, emerging as the leading choice to be the Saints’ defensive coordinator, according to ESPN.
Moore will try to revitalize a Saints team that went 5-12 last season while dealing with injuries to quarterback Derek Carr and receiver Chris Olave.