HEADLINES

Philadelphia Eagles News & Rumors

Final Transactions Of The 2024 NFL Season; Eagles Activate DE Brandon Graham From IR

February 9th, 2025 at 4:28pm CST by Ely Allen

FEBARUARY 9: With Graham active for tonight, Huff is amongst the Eagles’ healthy scratches. The latter had played in two of Philadelphia’s postseason games, and after signing a $17MM-per-year pact the fact he is not in the team’s Super Bowl lineup is a rather notable development. Most of Huff’s 2025 compensation is guaranteed, but his next action for Philadelphia will come next year.

FEBRUARY 8: The biggest game of the year will take place tomorrow night as the Chiefs are looking to threepeat for the first time in NFL history. The Eagles, on the other hand, are looking to avenge their Super Bowl loss to Patrick Mahomes and company from just two years ago. As has been the case all year, each team is allowed to elevate two players from their practice squad. Philadelphia has also taken the additional step to activate defensive end Brandon Graham from injured reserve.

Graham suffered a triceps tear in November, and it immediately became clear that he would not play again during the regular season. Triceps tears come with lengthy recovery timetables, and the 36-year-old said in the aftermath of the game in which his took place that he would be out for the rest of the year. As the season went on and the postseason drew nearer, hope began to rise that Graham would be able to make a return if the Eagles could last long enough to play in the Super Bowl.

To add on to that, Graham, who has spent his entire 15-year tenure in Philadelphia, said in July that he would retire following the 2024 campaign. If he is going to hold true to his word, he needed the team to keep winning in order to play one more game in green.

Luckily for Graham, his team held up their end of the bargain, and now, he’ll be able to hold up his. A Graham comeback will be significant for the Eagles, who have dealt with injuries to both he and Bryce Huff this season. Huff has since returned, though he is playing behind starters Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith in Vic Fangio‘s defense. At the time of his injury, Graham had already topped his 2023 full-season totals for sacks and QB hits in 11 games this season. The longest-tenured player in Eagles history was sitting on 3.5 and seven, respectively, in those categories when he went down against the Rams.

In order to make room on the roster, the Eagles have placed backup center Nick Gates on injured reserve. For their two practice squad callups, the Eagles have tabbed fullback Khari Blasingame and linebacker Nicholas Morrow. Blasingame has been elevated for all three of the team’s playoff games so far, while Morrow has been elevated for each of the last two.

The Chiefs only made standard gameday practice squad elevations today. Linebacker Swayze Bozeman and cornerback Steven Nelson will join the active roster for the final game of the season. Bozeman has played in two playoff games already for Kansas City, while Nelson will be making his 2024 debut.

Injured Reserve Return Tracker

February 8th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 27 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. This introduces more strategy for teams, who will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 27 were eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Players who receive return designations after Week 5 also appear on this list.

This offseason also brought a second adjustment, with teams who qualify for the playoffs set to have two additional activations at their disposals. With the playoffs upon us, the two additional activations have been added to each team’s ledger. Here is how the Chiefs and Eagles’ activation puzzles look going into Super Bowl LIX:

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return:

Reverted to season-ending IR

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Philadelphia Eagles

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

Designated for return:

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Poll: Who Will Win Super Bowl LIX?

February 7th, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

After outscoring opponents by 211 points in a 14-game 1975 season, the Steelers pitched five shutouts in 1976. Pittsburgh’s regular-season-ending nine-game win streak featured only two touchdowns allowed. As the 1989 49ers outscored playoff opposition 126-26, their 1990 edition went 14-2 and rostered back-to-back MVP Joe Montana. The Cowboys’ 1994 threepeat attempt saw both the Jerry Jones-Jimmy Johnson separation and a free agent-laden 49ers team play featured roles in their season.

All three dynasties saw their efforts at a third straight Super Bowl win stall in the conference championship round. The Packers did win three straight titles in the 1960s, though the first — in 1965 — came before the Super Bowl’s launch. This Chiefs run, for myriad reasons, has not brought the level of reverence compared to the above-referenced dynasties. While Kansas City’s effort has largely lacked the dominance the aforementioned operations displayed, Andy Reid‘s crew is the closest in the Super Bowl era to completing a signature NFL accomplishment.

The Chiefs are the first threepeat-seeking team to reach a Super Bowl. Although many would probably have a difficult time reconciling this Kansas City tightrope walk as the blueprint that pulls off this historic feat, as none of the Chiefs’ past three teams probably come too close to the juggernauts that headline lists of the league’s all-time greatest teams. However, even if the Chiefs’ present form does not exactly remind of the explosive start to their dynasty (as back-to-back 15th-place offensive rankings show), no team had even managed to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the 2003-04 Patriots.

Regardless of how the Chiefs made it here, they have shown historic reliability. The Reid- and Patrick Mahomes-fueled superpower has secured this opportunity due to unprecedented execution in close games. The Chiefs have won their past 17 one-score contests, setting a record. Will the Eagles wreck their well-crafted threepeat bid?

Although the Chiefs’ one-score streak does not quite stretch back to Super Bowl LVII, they emerged victorious in that matchup. A hotly debated holding call on James Bradberry denied the NFC champions a chance at a potential game-winning drive, but that Eagles team saw its top-10 defense unravel in the second half. Even as Jalen Hurts carved up a well-regarded Chiefs defense that night, the Eagles fell just short largely because of mistakes on defense and special teams. After last season’s Sean Desai–Matt Patricia defense cratered to do enough to create Nick Sirianni hot-seat rumors, the Eagles have stabilized this unit via their Vic Fangio hire.

Not as reliant on sacks as the 2022 team was, the Eagles allowed fewer yards per play (4.7) with 41 sacks than they did with 70 two years ago (4.8). The team has seen emergences from All-Pros Jalen Carter and Zack Baun, the latter reaching first-team status on a one-year, $3.5MM deal, fuel its first two levels while rookie cornerback investments Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have been quick studies on the back end. The team’s decision to give Bryce Huff a $17MM-per-year deal has not paid off yet, but agreeing to a rework with Josh Sweat — before trading Haason Reddick — has benefited a defense that ranked first in yardage and second in scoring this season.

Philadelphia also carries a far more imposing run game into this matchup compared to 2022, as the three-year, $37.75MM Saquon Barkley pact — a zag after several years passed without the team allocating much at running back — has provided tremendous value. The NFL’s ninth 2,000-yard rusher already sits seventh for ground yards in a single postseason (442). Only two RBs (John Riggins, Terrell Davis) have amassed 500 in one playoff journey. The Eagles’ extensions for Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata, and Jason Kelce succession plan featuring Cam Jurgens, each preceded All-Pro or Pro Bowl accolades.

As Barkley has soared in Philly, Hurts has not factored in as prominently into Kellen Moore‘s offense. The high-priced QB threw 361 passes — 99 fewer than his 2022 output in the same number of games — but cut down on interceptions from 2023 (15 down to five) while matching his per attempt figure (8.0) from his breakthrough season. The pass-game volume decreasing has impacted A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith following their extensions, however. While Hurts does not rival Mahomes in terms of stature in the game, he is the more interesting component in Sunday’s matchup due to the latter’s big-game dependability.

Even when their 38-0 Broncos result is removed, the Chiefs’ point differential is worse than any 15- or 14-win team in NFL history. The first 14-plus-win team to outscore opponents by less than 100 continued to get by with late-game execution, though officiating in these close games certainly became a hot-button topic as well.

The Chiefs are here without Mahomes earning a Pro Bowl nod and as Travis Kelce averaged a career-low 8.5 yards per reception. But the Chiefs finished as the NFL’s second-best third-down team. As Mahomes has become more short- and mid-range merchant than deep-ball assassin, Kansas City has made this setup work without reliable tackle play; All-Pro LG Joe Thuney is expected to start there as a stopgap again Sunday.

Ex-Eagles assistant Steve Spagnuolo‘s defense ranks in the top 10 for the fifth time in six years, however, and it held the Bills to one first down on a potential go-ahead fourth-quarter drive. The decision to give Chris Jones a DT-record $95MM guaranteed, rather than take their chances in free agency, has paid off as well. The top prize from the Tyreek Hill trade, versatile CB Trent McDuffie has remained an elite cover man — on a rookie contract, which the Chiefs effectively mandate at corner — and operates as their second-most important defender.

Although the Eagles may again have more talent top to bottom, the Chiefs’ Reid-Mahomes-Kelce-Jones setup — which is 3-1 in Super Bowls — has elevated them to a slight favorite. Do the Eagles have enough to nix a Chiefs coronation or will this Kansas City dynasty, via a fourth title in six years, keep moving up the all-time ranks? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on Super Bowl LIX in the comments section.

2025 Hall Of Fame Class Unveiled

February 6th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

As part of tonight’s NFL Honors program, the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has been revealed. It consists of just four players this year. Here is the full breakdown of the 2025 class:

Eric Allen, cornerback (1988-2001)

Playing long enough to be part of the Reggie White–Jerome Brown Eagles defenses to Jon Gruden‘s Raiders teams, Allen excelled well into his 30s and is one of the great playmaking cornerbacks in NFL history. Allen is responsible for eight pick-sixes, cramming seven of them between the 1993 and 2001 seasons. Allen finished his 14-year career with 54 INTs, which is tied for 21st in NFL history.

The Eagles drafted Allen in the 1988 second round and installed him as a starter on Buddy Ryan‘s defense in Week 1 of his rookie season. Allen intercepted 13 passes over his first two years, helping the Eagles — with White at the wheel — form a dominant defensive nucleus. The Eagles won the NFC East in Allen’s rookie season, ending a five-year playoff drought. As Randall Cunningham soared on offense, Allen patrolled the back line of a defense geared around one of the NFL’s all-time greats. Allen joins White as the Hall of Famers from that unit.

Allen notched four pick-sixes during the 1993 season, including this gem against the Jets, but the Eagles fell short of the playoffs that year and dipped a bit as the Cunningham years waned. Allen still made the Pro Bowl each year from 1991-95, following a first-team All-Pro honor in 1989. He signed with the Saints as a free agent in 1995, playing three years in New Orleans, before joining the Raiders in Gruden’s first offseason at the controls.

As the Raiders hoarded aging players who still had plenty left in the tank during Gruden’s first stint as HC, Allen was among the most productive. He nabbed six INTs at age 35 in 2000, returning three for scores. That season snapped a seven-year Raiders playoff skid and produced a run to the AFC championship game — the franchise’s first in 17 years. Allen retired after the ’01 season, starting 214 games. Among pure corners, that ranks third all time. While the turnover counts aided Allen, his longevity will send him to Canton nearly 25 years after his retirement.

Jared Allen, defensive end (2004-15)

One of the best sack artists of his era, Jared Allen will make this a two-Allen class (on a big night for NFL Allens). Jared excelled for the Chiefs and Vikings, being part of a win-win trade in 2008, and then retired after playing in Super Bowl 50 as a Panther. Allen sits 12th in the sack era (1982-present) in QB drops, racking up 136 despite playing only 12 seasons.

The Chiefs drafted Allen in the 2004 fourth round out of Division I-FCS Idaho State. He immediately became an impact edge rusher but joined a team in transition. As Kansas City’s offense-oriented team aged, Allen ascended and became a star for a franchise in decline. After the Chiefs made the playoffs in 2006 under first-year HC Herm Edwards, Allen led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in his fourth season. The 2007 Chiefs went 4-12, losing their final nine games. The Chiefs cashed out on a player who had encountered off-field trouble, in the form of two 2006 DUIs, early in his career. The trade equipped both the Chiefs and Vikings.

During the 2008 draft, Kansas City dealt Allen to Minnesota for first- and third-round picks. A win-win swap sent tackle Branden Albert and running back Jamaal Charles to the Chiefs in the ’08 draft, while Allen landed an extension (six years, $73.26MM) enjoyed his prime in the Twin Cities. Registering 14.5 sacks in back-to-back seasons, the second effort falling just short of a Super Bowl after Minnesota’s Brett Favre-led team lost in overtime in the NFC championship game, Allen then made a run at the NFL record in 2011. Allen tallied 22 sacks during the ’11 season, falling a half-sack short of Michael Strahan‘s official record.

Allen played out his Vikings contract in 2013, signing with the Bears. Chicago then traded him to Carolina for a conditional sixth-round pick during the 2015 season, as he joined fellow former Bear Charles Tillman in going for a championship with the Panthers. Although Carolina went 15-1 and ranked sixth defensively, the team’s high-powered offense fell to a superior Denver defense in Super Bowl 50. Allen needed to wait a bit before his induction, but he has gained entry in this year’s unusually small class.

Antonio Gates, tight end (2003-18)

Gates remains the NFL’s leader among touchdown receptions by a tight end. The longtime Philip Rivers target totaled 116 TD grabs during his 16-year career, bettering Tony Gonzalez‘s mark by five. Gonzalez also played 17 seasons (to Gates’ 16). Gates tied Gonzalez’s then-record in 2016, posting five TDs across his final two seasons. The converted basketball player’s mid-2000s surge helped the Chargers win four straight AFC West titles to close the decade.

The Chargers made Gates an integral part of that climb, which remains the franchise’s best sustained stretch since its Air Coryell years. LaDainian Tomlinson shattered the single-season touchdown record, which still stands nearly 20 years later, and Gates broke through as an impact tight end. The Chargers built their passing attack around Gates for many years, and he helped anchor the team’s skill-position group in between Tomlinson’s exit and Keenan Allen‘s arrival.

Initially playing alongside Drew Brees, the ex-Kent State hooper earned first-team All-Pro honors in his second, third and fourth seasons. Gates only suited up for the Chargers, walking away after his age-38 season. The Bolts and Gates agreed to five contracts, the most lucrative a five-year, $36.2MM extension in 2010.

Although Gates needed to wait a year before being enshrined, he is one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. His 116 TD receptions rank seventh all time at any position. While his production tailed off as he hit his mid-30s, after making eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 2004-11, the former UDFA remained a solid red zone target for Rivers.

Sterling Sharpe, wide receiver (1988-94)

If the NFL had a No. 1 contender status to Jerry Rice during his peak, Sharpe would have been the best answer. The star Packers pass catcher was 5-for-7 in Pro Bowl nods, during an era where that meant more, and raced to three All-Pro first teams during a career cut short by a neck injury.

Sharpe was close to doing enough for Hall entry by the time he retired at 29, and he exited just before Favre grew into MVP form. In Favre’s early years, however, Sharpe helped the Green Bay trade acquisition become one of the game’s best.

The No. 7 overall pick in a 1988 draft that also included Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Tim Brown, Pro Bowler Anthony Miller and single-game receiving yardage king Flipper Anderson, Sharpe was the first wideout off the board. The physical South Carolina product, who entered the league two years before brother Shannon (and with much greater fanfare), posted a 1,400-yard season in 1989, helping QB Don Majkowski finish second in MVP voting. Sharpe added another 1,100-yard year in 1990 and soared back to the All-Pro level when the Pack landed Favre in ’92.

Sharpe’s first year with Favre featured the wideout break Art Monk’s single-season record by catching 108 passes. Becoming the first receiver to post back-to-back seasons with 100 catches, Sharpe broke his own mark with 112 grabs in 1993. Sharpe led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 1992 (13) and ’94 (18), reaching the latter perch despite dealing with the neck injury and other ailments.

The Favre-Sharpe connection played a central role in the Packers snapping a 10-year playoff drought, and in the duo’s first playoff game, they hooked up on a game-winning score to beat the Lions in Detroit. Sharpe scored three touchdowns in Green Bay’s wild-card win. Sharpe never missed a game and retired ranking 13th in career catches (595) and 18th all time in TD receptions (65).

Saquon Barkley Rejected At Least Two Bigger Offers To Join Eagles

February 5th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Between the Giants beginning Saquon Barkley negotiations in fall 2022 to HBO’s Hard Knocks: Offseason debut last summer, the star running back’s career path has come up numerous times. As Barkley prepares for his Super Bowl debut, more rumors about his fateful 2024 decision are surfacing.

The Eagles landed Barkley in free agency, authorizing a three-year, $37.75MM deal that came with $26MM guaranteed at signing. This represented a windfall for Barkley, whose bet on himself (via a 2023 Giants franchise tag) paid off. The Eagles were not the only Barkley suitor, with a few other teams being part of this derby during what became a historic day (March 11) for running back movement.

It is believed Barkley rejected two better offers to sign with the Eagles, according to the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. It is both unclear if this pertains to better guarantees or a superior AAV, but Barkley may have been able to raise the boat for RBs higher this past offseason.

Barkley is a Pennsylvania native who played at Penn State; his decision to return home clearly looks like the correct play. Barkley stormed to the rushing title (2,005 yards), albeit after a strong push from Derrick Henry, and likely would have broken Eric Dickerson‘s single-season record had the Eagles greenlit usage in the Week 18 Giants rematch.

The Giants famously did not make an offer to retain Barkley, despite the former Offensive Rookie of the Year repeatedly indicating he wanted to finish his career in New York. The Texans presented him with a proposal but may not have been one of the teams that offered a better deal. A spring 2024 report indicating the AFC South club offered a three-year pact worth around $33MM. Barkley said he received four offers.

Barkley did say the Texans were the team that initially sparked interest, but he appeared on the Bears, Chargers and Ravens’ radars as well. Joe Schoen said a text received on Day 1 of the legal tampering period — the frenzied RB sequence — indicated the Bears were driving up Barkley’s price. It is possible Chicago received word Barkley was out before pivoting to D’Andre Swift (at three years, $24MM). Though, Swift was the first commit during the 2024 free agency period. The ex-Lions and Eagles starter joined the Bears within minutes of the tampering period’s outset.

Of course, illegal tampering regularly commences, as contracts are magically drawn up early during the tampering period annually. An Eagles tampering investigation did not produce punishment (unlike the Falcons’ Kirk Cousins pursuit). The Chargers also made low-level investments in RBs, adding Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins signed for less than $5MM per year between them. The Ravens added Henry at two years and $16MM. It is possible a stealth suitor drove up the Barkley market as well, but the seventh-year vet still fared well on the market — even if he did not take the absolute best offer.

Playing behind Philadelphia’s top-tier offensive line unleashed Barkley, whose playoff performance powered the Eagles to their second Super Bowl in three seasons. Barkley’s 442 rushing yards already rank seventh for a single playoff run. Only John Riggins (1982) and Terrell Davis‘ 1997 slate have Barkley’s postseason showing beat by more than 100 yards, which will be relevant depending on how many the soon-to-be 28-year-old RB amasses against the Chiefs.

The Eagles’ NFC championship game win also produced a $750K bump for Barkley, per CBS Sports’ Joel Corry. This came because the Big Ten product surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in the regular season and the Eagles won the NFC title game. Another $250K would come Barkley’s way if Philly prevails Sunday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds. Because Barkley triggered his NFC championship incentive, Corry adds that his 2025 and ’26 base salaries will escalate by $250K apiece.

Eagles EDGE Josh Sweat Hires New Representation

February 5th, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Ben Levine

While Josh Sweat is surely focused on this weekend’s Super Bowl, the impending free agent also made some notable moves behind the scenes. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the pass rusher changed representation earlier this week, hiring Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha.

“It’s the biggest moment of my life,” Sweat told Zach Berman of PHLY. “That’s it, really. I just thought it was the best for me, and I wanted to be the most prepared I could be for it.”

A former fourth-round pick, this will mark Sweat’s third contract. With a year remaining on his rookie deal, the defensive end inked a three-year, $40MM extension with the Eagles in 2021. While Sweat hasn’t earned any accolades throughout his second contract, he’s still been a pass-rushing force for Philly, compiling 25.5 sacks across 49 games.

This past season, the 27-year-old collected eight sacks and 15 QB hits in 16 games (15 starts). Pro Football Focus ultimately graded Sweat 34th among 119 qualifying edge defenders in 2024, a step up from his 56th-place finish in 2023.

Sweat’s lack of track record limited his earnings during his last contract, but he could be set to cash in this offseason. Per OverTheCap.com, there are 20 edge rushers earning at least $15MM per year, including teammate Bryce Huff, who garnered a $17MM AAV last offseason. The 2025 campaign will represent Sweat’s age-28 season, so there will surely be a team willing to pay up for the veteran’s services during free agency.

Eagles Designate Brandon Graham, C.J. Uzomah For Return

February 5th, 2025 at 11:56am CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 5: Graham views it as likely he will suit up for a third Super Bowl. It should be expected the Eagles activate Graham by Saturday’s deadline, as the 15th-year defensive end said (via FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz) he is on track to play against the Chiefs.

JANUARY 30: Viewed as likely to miss the rest of the season upon suffering a torn triceps muscle in November, Brandon Graham held out hope for a return if the Eagles booked a Super Bowl trip. Now that Super Bowl LIX will feature Philadelphia, the Eagles will see about a potential comeback.

Graham, who had said before this season he would retire after it wrapped, will practice Thursday. The Eagles designated the 15th-year defensive end and tight end C.J. Uzomah for return. Additionally, the Eagles signed running back Lew Nichols to their practice squad and released tight end Nick Muse.

A Graham comeback would be significant for the Eagles, who have dealt with injuries to both he and Bryce Huff this season. Huff has since returned, though he is playing behind starters Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith in Vic Fangio‘s defense. Graham, 36, had already topped his 2023 full-season totals for sacks and QB hits in 11 games this season. The longest-tenured player in Eagles history was sitting on 3.5 and seven, respectively, in those categories when he went down against the Rams.

As PFR’s coaching trackers have become more prominent, revisiting our IR Return Tracker shows the Eagles with four IR activations left. Teams received two more in the playoffs this year, marking a change from the NFL’s 2022 and ’23 setups under its current format. Graham and Uzomah join return man Britain Covey in the practice window. The team will not activate defensive lineman Byron Young, whose practice window expired this week.

Philly has not produced the prolific sack numbers it carried into Super Bowl LVII, but Fangio’s defense has improved significantly from where it was under Sean Desai and Matt Patricia last season. The Eagles led the league in yards allowed and finished second in scoring. While the Chiefs have not closely reminded of their 2022 offense this season, only eclipsing 30 points one time, the Patrick Mahomes-led unit proved it still had firepower last week by hanging 32 on the Bills. The Eagles having one more pass-rushing option could be significant, as the Chiefs have proven historically reliable in close games.

The Eagles re-signed Graham on a one-year, $4MM deal last March. Having broken Chuck Bednarik‘s record for service time as an Eagle, Graham said to start training camp he would make this season his last. After the injury, Graham was less definitive. But returning in time for the Super Bowl could provide a fitting conclusion — well, should it go the Eagles’ way.

Graham, of course, delivered his signature play in a Super Bowl by forcing a Tom Brady fumble to set up Philly’s game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LII. The Patriots entered that game having qualified for seven straight conference championships; the Chiefs are now riding the same streak, and the Eagles are all that stand in the way of Kansas City becoming the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. That stands to make a potential Graham return a closely monitored situation.

Uzomah sustained an abdominal injury in Week 17. The former Bengals Super Bowl starter has not played a regular role with the Eagles. A Jets cap casualty in 2024, Uzomah has played in seven Eagles games but has not caught a pass. He would serve as depth behind Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra.

Saints, Kellen Moore To Meet Again After Super Bowl

January 31st, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

Signs continue to point to Kellen Moore becoming the Saints’ next head coach. The parties have already interviewed twice, but another meeting is being arranged.

Since the Eagles are set to play in the upcoming Super Bowl, their offensive coordinator cannot agree to the New Orleans gig at this time. After the big game, though, he and the Saints plan to meet once again, per Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Other candidates have been informed of this by general manager Mickey Loomis, per the report as well as Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

No final decision has been made, of course, but this latest update comes as no surprise. Moore was recently joined by former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy as a top candidate, but the latter has since withdrawn from consideration. That leaves Moore firmly in the lead for the lone remaining HC opportunity in the NFL. Darren Rizzi, who finished the 2024 campaign as the Saints’ interim head coach, looms as an alternative at this stage of the search process.

Throughout the early stages of the 2025 hiring cycle, it became clear many of the top candidates on the market were not enthused about taking charge of the Saints. Aaron Glenn represented an exception in that regard, although he wound up being hired by the Jets before his second New Orleans interview took place. Follow-up meetings have been held with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as well as Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, but they will need to wait more than one week to find out if Moore is officially hired.

Presuming that will take place when possible, the 35-year-old will begin his first NFL head coaching position in 2025. Shortly after his playing career ended, Moore worked with the Cowboys for five years (including four as OC). That was followed by a single campaign as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator and, for 2024, the same role with the Eagles. Philadelphia’s ground game has played a major role in the team’s success this year, and it could make him the latest staffer to parlay an Eagles OC gig into a first-time head coaching position.

The Saints’ roster is understandably not seen as one with a high ceiling as things stand, and the quarterback position is unsettled in the case of Derek Carr (especially beyond next year). New Orleans’ next head coach will have a say in shaping the team’ direction under center, and it continues to look as though that task will fall to Moore in the near future.

Mike McCarthy Withdraws From Saints’ HC Search; Kellen Moore In Place As Lead Candidate

January 29th, 2025 at 8:20am CST by Nikhil Mehta

JANUARY 29: Moore is indeed viewed as a lead candidate for this job, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. With McCarthy, Brady and Kingsbury out of the running, the Saints are running short on names to fill the NFL’s last remaining HC vacancy. The team cannot officially hire Moore until after Super Bowl LIX, but unofficial agreements — like the 49ers’ 2017 deal with Kyle Shanahan and the Colts’ eventually broken pledge with Josh McDaniels in 2018 — are often reached with Super Bowl-bound coordinators before those games.

The 2023 offseason also showed teams have been willing to wait on Eagles assistants until after a Super Bowl. The Cardinals and Colts respectively waited out that Eagles-Chiefs matchup, respectively hiring Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen. Moore met with the Saints in-person Monday night. Were the Philly OC to take this job, it would be his fourth in four years. Moore has bounced from play-calling gigs in Dallas, Los Angeles and Philadelphia from 2022-24.

JANUARY 28: After appearing to lose ground in recent days, Mike McCarthy has decided to withdraw from consideration for the Saints’ head coaching job and will not coach in the NFL in 2025, according to Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

McCarthy became a free agent late in the hiring cycle after failing to reach a new contract with the Cowboys. He was considered one of the frontrunners for the gig in New Orleans, especially after Aaron Glenn agreed to join the Jets. Instead, McCarthy will look ahead to the 2026 hiring cycle where he will rely on his history of regular-season success to attract job offers.

[RELATED: Kliff Kingsbury Will Not Meet With Saints]

Surprisingly, McCarthy never spoke with the Saints about the job despite their reported interest. The two sides intended to meet this week, but those plans were scuttled by McCarthy’s withdrawal, per Underhill. His hesitation could be a result of New Orleans’ pursuit of Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

With Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady also backing out of consideration last week, Moore appears to be the clear frontrunner to be the next head coach in New Orleans. He interviewed with the team in person on Monday, and his Eagles will take over the Saints’ facility for their Super Bowl preparation next week.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver are also considered finalists for the job after going through second interviews last week. Here is a full list of the Saints’ candidates:

Load More Posts