The most prestigious head coaching role in the NFL may soon have a frontrunner.

On January 20, Jon Machota of The Athletic reported that the Dallas Cowboys are leaning toward hiring Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as their next head coach.

“This could change depending on further interviews, but Moore is currently the favorite,” Machota wrote. “He was the first interview, and Jerry Jones holds the former Cowboys QB, QB coach, and offensive coordinator in high regard. Fans on social media seem to favor (Ben) Johnson and (Deion) Sanders over Moore.”

Johnson, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, is no longer a candidate after reports suggested he would be the next Chicago Bears head coach. The process accelerated after the Lions, who held the No. 1 seed, were upset 45-31 by the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round. Sanders has yet to announce if he will leave the University of Colorado for the NFL.

The Cowboys finished 7-10 in 2024, resulting in head coach Mike McCarthy being let go after five seasons.

In Moore’s first season with the Eagles, the team finished 14-3 in 2024, earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs. The offense featured NFL All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley, All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown, and All-Pro offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.

The Eagles are set to face the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game on January 26 in Philadelphia.

Moore’s Deep Cowboys Connection

Moore spent eight seasons with the Cowboys in various roles — as a backup QB from 2015 to 2017, quarterbacks coach in 2018, and offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022.

At just 30 years old, Moore was hired as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator in 2019, leading one of the NFL’s top 4 offenses from 2019 to 2022 before being fired following a 12-5 regular season and early playoff exit. He then had an underwhelming season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 under head coach Brandon Staley.

In his December 6 column, ESPN’s Dan Graziano named Moore as one of the top 10 head coaching candidates for 2025.

“A couple of years ago, Moore seemed destined for a head-coaching job,” Graziano wrote. “He’s rebounded with one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses in his first year in Philadelphia… If the Cowboys part ways with Mike McCarthy, could Moore return to Dallas for the top job?”

Cowboys’ Significant Investment in Offense in 2024

With the Commanders making their first NFC Championship appearance since 1991, it highlights that every NFC team has reached the NFC Championship since the Cowboys last did so in 1995.

The Cowboys’ considerable financial investments in 2024 make seasons like their last one even more difficult to tolerate.

Quarterback Dak Prescott became the highest-paid player in NFL history with a four-year, $240 million extension in September 2024 — the NFL’s first $60 million player. Just weeks before Prescott’s deal, the Cowboys secured All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb with a four-year, $136 million extension.