Kellen Moore responds to Jerry Jones' 'dread' comments: 'Jerry plays the game, too'

The Los Angeles Chargers have a major opportunity on Monday night to earn a win for their offensive coordinator Kellen Moore against the team that opted to part ways with him after five years in March. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones grabbed headlines this week when he told the hosts of 105.3 The Fan that he’s “dreading” facing Moore with whom he built a strong relationship over several years.

The Chargers coordinator responded to Jones’ assertion of “dread” with a laugh.

“Jerry plays the game, too, guys,” Moore told reporters, via The Athletic. “Jerry’s awesome. I’m obviously thankful… There are a lot of relationships you love and appreciate there, people you’re close to and will be close to for a long time. It’ll be fun to see all those people.”

Parting ways with Moore was perhaps the most controversial of Dallas’ offseason changes. Fans certainly won’t be shy about calling out the general manager and head coach Mike McCarthy for the choice to send him packing if the Chargers get the best of them on Monday.

“I have dreaded seeing Kellen on this occasion,” Jones said, via the Athletics‘ Jon Machota. “Kellen is one of my favorites as far as individuals. He’s a talented coach, make no mistake about it. … He’s become an outstanding coach.”

Asked whether there’s any personal motivation going into Monday’s game, Mike McCarthy downplayed the battle of the minds against Kellen Moore. It’s mainly up to Dan Quinn to “put it on” the former Dallas coach anyway.

“No, not really,” McCarthy said, via Machota. “There’s really no bells and whistles for this one. This is Game 6. My focus has always been, and it’s really the way I view schedules, I think a lot of NFL scheduling is it’s not as much who you play it’s when you play them… He obviously has an excellent opportunity that he’s doing a very nice job with.”

Prescott excited to see former coach/teammate Kellen Moore

Dak Prescott, who first served as a fellow backup quarterback with Kellen Moore to Tony Romo then started under Moore as the QB became a coach and coordinator, is looking forward to seeing his friend.

“He’s more than a coach,” Prescott said this week. “Obviously, he was a teammate that turned into a coach, but he’s a friend. A friend for life. Talked to him earlier in the year, wished him luck, but obviously we’ve had our own things and our hands full. It will be great when I see him at some point come Monday.”

The Cowboys will wear their Color Rush white jerseys and helmets on Monday Night Football. Kickoff for the game is at 8:15 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium.