Kellen Moore reveals hardest part about leaving Dallas Cowboys

Kellen Moore is getting settled in as the L.A. Chargers offensive coordinator but at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, the former Dallas Cowboys assistant opened up about leaving his home of almost a decade. The hardest part, he revealed on Thursday, was leaving quarterback Dak Prescott.

“The playing aspect of it is what it is. The personal side is probably unique,” Moore said, via Todd Archer. “I was with Dak his entire career. Just love the guy, love what he’s become and how he’s earned it.

“I think he’s a guy that everyone looks up to on the team and I think across the league now. I think winning the Walton Payton award is such a cool moment to see. He deserves these types of things. He’s a really special person.”

Moore, once a standout at Boise State, began his coaching career in the NFL with Dallas after serving as a player-mentor for Prescott during the 2015 season. He took over the quarterbacks room in 2018 before moving into the offensive coordinator role in Jason Garrett’s final season with the team.

After Mike McCarthy became the new Dallas head coach, he retained Moore as his offensive coordinator. The duo reached 12-win regular seasons in 2021 and 2022, but first-round and second-round exits from the playoffs fell below expectations.

Now, instead of coaching up Prescott, Moore will be working with 2020 first-round draft pick Justin Herbert. Herbert recently underwent surgery for a torn labrum but his return timeline puts him back on the field in time for training camp.

Moore: ‘We were really lucky’

“It was really fun just to go through the process of merging worlds,” Moore said. “I think that was such a fun process. There’s just so many little things as you go through game plans and gamedays as you’re calling the game, just being able to have those conversations about different ways you can go, different paths you can take, he was a really great sounding board for me.”

Moore took over the Dallas Cowboys offense in 2019, leading the team to top six finishes in points per game in three of four seasons as offensive coordinator. The Cowboys also finished No. 1 in yards per game in 2021 and 2019.

The Cowboys may have had some disappointing finishes in the playoffs, but parting ways with Moore isn’t without risks. Mike McCarthy is shouldering the brunt of the risk by taking over play-calling duties himself for 2023.

Moore walks away from Dallas with a new challenge and a lot of gratitude.

“Honestly, I love that place,” Moore said. “The Jones family, their willingness to allow me to ascent rather quickly from a player to a QB coach to the coordinator level. Just so many special people there. Absolutely loved it. We were really lucky.”