Mike McCarthy explains philosophical differences that led to split from Kellen Moore

At the NFL scouting combine, reporters grilled Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday about why he parted ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

After finishing third in the 2022 season in total points, the Cowboys offense sputtered in the playoffs versus the 49ers. According to McCarthy, Dallas’s run game, or at least the run play-calling, wasn’t what he wanted it to be. Although he was pleased with the run-pass balance, he believes Moore sacrificed time of possession and ball security to score more points.

“I’ve been where Kellen’s been,” McCarthy said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “Kellen wants to light the scoreboard up, but I want him to run the damn ball so I can rest my defense. I think when you’re a coordinator, you know but you’re in charge of the offense. Being a head coach and being a play caller, you’re a little more in tune with (everything).

“I don’t desire to be the No. 1 offense in the league. I want to be the No. 1 team in the league with the number of wins and a championship. And if we’ve got to give up some production and take care of the ball a little better to get that, then that’s what we’ll do because we have a really good defense.”

McCarthy’s statement about the run game was widely panned on social media as analysts pointed out the Cowboys were most efficient when throwing on early downs. Also, Dallas already has one of the highest designed rush rate in the league at 45%.

McCarthy: ‘This was the right time’

McCarthy went on to praise Moore for his cognitive and creative ability but ultimately, it appears he trusts his own play-calling more.

“I think he’s got an excellent, creative mind and has a lot of good thoughts,” McCarthy said. “He has this (quick thinking) and you can’t do the job if you don’t have that. I don’t think you’d be a coach if you don’t have this.

“So I want to make sure I’m being real about how I feel about him. But I just felt that this was the right time. Different fastball, different curveball, different changeup, you know? I think it’ll serve us well.”

When Stephen Jones talked to the media at the combine, he revealed it was McCarthy that decided he wanted to take the reins, not the higher-ups.

“Obviously he’s the head coach of this football team and he made a compelling argument that making him the play caller was going to help us,” Jones told ESPN’s Todd Archer. “I mean that’s part of the coaching, be one click better. He feels good about it.”