There is only one more game guaranteed for the 2020 Dallas Cowboys and whether they wind up doing what they need to do and getting the necessary help in order to win the NFC East, they are very close to the offseason and a number of important decisions.
The next few months will be critical to the 2021 Cowboys as they will be looking to build success in the second year of Mike McCarthy as coach, a season that will hopefully not be as injury-plagued as this one. It makes sense that this team will have more success with players like Dak Prescott, Tyron Smith, and La’el Collins available to them, but there are other factors at play.
Something that has created conversation as of late has been the status of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The college football season has only one game left in the national championship contest (it should be a great one by the way), and programs are already building towards their own futures.
Saturday brought the news that the University of Texas is out on Tom Herman and in on Steve Sarkisian as an example. The state of Boise State, where Kellen Moore experienced more success than most as a player, is currently a question mark and people naturally connected the former Bronco to the vacant head coaching position. Not so fast!
Kellen Moore is reportedly bypassing the Boise State job to remain the Cowboys offensive coordinator
It is no secret that Kellen Moore is in the final year of his contract with the Cowboys and with a job available that seemingly makes so much sense (in a world where these types of things rarely line up like this) it has made much sense that Moore could possibly leave the Cowboys for Boise State. Moore has been instrumental to the Cowboys’ offensive success and efficiency since taking over as offensive coordinator, and we didn’t get to see it in its fully intended form for an entire season this year as Dak Prescott went down in Week 5.
Thankfully, it appears as if there will more opportunities in the future. On the eve of Week 17 it was reported by ESPN that Kellen Moore is not only staying as the Cowboys offensive coordinator, but that he is bypassing an opportunity to be the head coach at Boise State in order to do so. The Cowboys are apparently signing him to an extension per the worldwide leader.
Had heard that Kellen Moore wouldn't even have considered any other college HC jobs at this point but the fact that it was Boise State he had to think about it given his connection to the place. https://t.co/mhi59Vg8VI
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2021
It is obviously unknown just what the full “opportunity” was for Moore to head to Boise State, but the important thing here is that he is staying with the Cowboys which is great news for fans of the team everywhere.
To be frank it is a bit of an upset to see the Cowboys keeping Moore as he certainly seemed like a favorite to land some sort of notable head coaching job even if it wasn’t at his alma mater. It is possible that the Cowboys made him an offer that was difficult to refuse, but again, the important thing here is that he isn’t going anywhere.
Of course it is difficult not to see the similarities between the path that Kellen Moore is on and the one that Jason Garrett took when he first started out on the Cowboys staff. Both joined the team as former backup quarterbacks for the club (who both interestingly wore number 17) and showed a lot of promise early on in their careers as an offensive coordinator. Jason Garrett famously turned down opportunities to be the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens in 2008 to remain as the Cowboys offensive coordinator, and he wound up serving as the team’s interim head coach when Wade Phillips was fired two years later before being fully handed the job in its entirety in 2011.
Is Mike McCarthy the Wade Phillips to Kellen Moore? Only time will tell. For now we can all celebrate that things should continue working smoothly on the offensive side of the ball in the future, and perhaps that future can be delayed just a bit by the team winning the NFC East on Sunday.
Update: 10:40pm ET
It was reported by ESPN that Kellen Moore’s extension with the Cowboys is for three years. He is now signed with the club through 2023. Mike McCarthy is signed through 2024 in case you forgot.
Kellen Moore has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Cowboys as offensive coordinator, according to a source. His contract with the Cowboys was set to expire after this season. Mike McCarthy is signed through 2024. Now Moore is under contract through 2023.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 3, 2021
Kellen also had some thoughts on his extension with the team.
Kellen Moore: “We are building something special here in Dallas. I am thankful to the Jones family and Mike McCarthy for providing me with the opportunity to coach these special players. I am excited for us to put it all together and finish the job.” Three-year extension.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 3, 2021
This is all very good to see.