Kellen Moore landed new OC job thanks to Cowboys-Chargers joint practices

Do you wonder why it took about a day for Kellen Moore to accept a job from the Chargers after parting ways with the Cowboys? Think back to last summer, when the teams practiced against each other during preseason training camp.

The Cowboys and Chargers conducted two joint practices last August in Costa Mesa, Calif. Then the teams played each other in a preseason game. It was a nice change of pace for training camp. Chargers coach Brandon Staley liked what he saw coming from the other sideline, specifically with the way Kellen Moore conducted the Cowboys offense. And Moore appreciated how Staley ran his team, bringing veteran leaders to establish practice parameters.

“You get a feel for someone when you’re in that type of environment because it’s really competitive,” Staley said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “And the fact that we were on the same field, we weren’t on opposite fields, we’re going against each other for two straight days, just gave me a really strong feeling of who he is.

“You just got that feel for who he is as a person and just how he’s wired as a coach,” Staley said of Kellen Moore. “It really reminded me of the significant relationships I have, whether it’s with Kevin (O’Connell), Sean (McVay), obviously Jonathan (Gannon) is my best friend.”

Two coaches promised to stay in touch after practices

The two coaches decided to keep in touch after the preseason camp ended. Neither knew at the time that they’d be working together a year later. But Staley did admire the way Moore called offenses before the joint practices. His first game as a defensive coordinator came against the Cowboys when Moore was the OC. That was back in 2020 when Staley was with the Rams. Then in his second game as head coach with the Chargers, Staley again faced the Cowboys and Moore.

Kellen Moore, Cowboys parted ways after playoff loss to 49ers

Kellen Moore’s final game with the Cowboys was Dallas’ road loss to the 49ers in the second-round of the NFL playoffs. Owner Jerry Jones opted to shake up his coaching staff following the loss. One of those moves was cutting ties with Moore. Jones had kept Moore on staff in 2020, even though he hired offensive-minded Mike McCarthy as head coach. But he let him go in 2023, with McCarthy charged with calling plays this fall.

But Kellen Moore didn’t stay unemployed very long. He got a phone call from Staley, his new coaching friend.

“It happened fast,” Moore told Sports Illustrated. “Once the Dallas thing got sorted out, and it all felt like going down different path would be good for everyone, I was able to connect with Brandon. We touched base, and shoot, it was, I don’t know, 24 hours and we were pretty much good to go. That’s the value of staying in contact with someone, having a relationship where we’d gotten to know each other prior to that, playing against each other.

Meanwhile, Staley told SI he can see the immediate results of hiring Kellen Moore, who is working with quarterback Justin Herbert.

“I left the practice field of the last practice of minicamp saying that was the best throwing session that we’ve ever had since we’ve been here,” Staley said, “It was the highest level, it was the highest quality of play, both sides of the ball, since I’ve been here. And there were a lot of reasons for it. We’ve got really good players. We’ve got guys that really believe in our culture and they’re going on Year 3 and all that. But it’s just, the level of play …I left the field saying, This is exactly why we hired Kellen.”