A big Sunday afternoon awaits the Dallas Cowboys, but the team took a big step toward its future on Saturday night.
The Cowboys have announced that they have agreed to an extension with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who joined the coaching staff in 2018 after retiring from the NFL at the end of the 2017 season.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the ‘lucrative’ deal runs for three years, ending rumors of Moore’s head coach in his Boom State, where he is considered a top man, (at least for the time being) . candidate.
“I’m very excited to stay with the Dallas Cowboys as the offensive coordinator,” Moore said in a statement from the team. “I will no longer follow the head coaching at Boise State. I love Boise State. I will always root for it, and I hope to be part of the program again one day.
“We’re building something special here in Dallas. I’m grateful to the Jones family and Mike McCarthy for giving me the opportunity to coach these special players. I’m excited to put it all together and the finish work. “
Despite Dak Prescott falling into a major slump in Week 5, the Cowboys enter Week 17 on a try with a chance to earn a playoff spot with a win over the Giants and a loss by NFC East leader Washington against the Eagles.
Moore, widely regarded as one of the brightest offensive minds in the game, made important adjustments that not only heightened the recent game of offense, but also breathed new life into the franchise.
Led by Andy Dalton, Ezekiel Elliott and a formidable receiving squad – Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb – the Cowboys have scored 30 points in each of their last three games, including a 20-point victory over Philadelphia last week around themselves to position for a chance at the post-season. Dallas scored 513 yards in the win, the most in a game since losing Prescott.
After his six-year NFL career, which was with the Lions and Cowboys for three years, Moore spent a season as QB coach under Jason Garrett before being promoted to OC in 2019.
After Dallas decided last January that he was not going to renew Garrett’s contract, Moore was retained by McCarthy, who was hired two days after the team officially separated from its longtime head coach.
Despite not making the playoffs, the Cowboys finished the 2019 campaign in first place overall in attack (431.5 YPG), while Prescott had a career year. They enter 12th place in the category on Sunday (376.1 YPG).