Why the Cowboys believe new QB coach Kellen Moore is a future coaching star
Kellen Moore is making the transition from practice squad quarterback to quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
It might seem like a significant jump to those on the outside, but not for those within the organization.
“I really think Kellen is going to be a star in this league. I really do,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “We’ve spent a lot of time with him and he’s got a lot of qualities of the guy that’s the head coach of this team right now.”
Jones is referring to coach Jason Garrett, who began his career in similar fashion. Garrett had no layoff from his playing career to becoming the Miami Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach in 2005-06.
For the Cowboys, Moore makes sense as he understands offensive coordinator Scott Linehan’s scheme as well as anyone going back to their time together in Detroit.
More important, quarterback Dak Prescott has raved about the input and advice Moore has given him early on in his career. It’ll be a natural transition for Prescott and Moore as both are familiar with each other from Day 1.
Plus, the Cowboys like the idea of having familiar voices in Prescott’s ear going into Year 3. Garrett, Linehan and Moore have all been around since Prescott joined the organization as a 2016 fourth-round pick.
“Part of making our organization ‘Dak-friendly’ was keeping things that he was really comfortable with, and that being Scott and Kellen and Jason and really keeping some consistency there in terms of his development,” Jones said. “He’s just really come a long ways, 32 regular-season games, a playoff game and a bunch of preseason activity. He’s played a lot of football and we also want to keep that going in the right direction.”
And, as stated, they see a bright coaching future ahead for Moore. This is a guy who comes from a coaching family as his father, Tom, is a longtime high school football coach in Washington.
Those coaching genes have rubbed off on Moore who lasted six years in the NFL despite being undrafted and undersized coming off a stellar college career at Boise State.
“He didn’t have all the skills and all the talent coming out, but he was able to make a place for himself in our league,” Jones said. “He obviously has a tremendous football IQ and mind.”
Moore, 28, ends his playing career appearing in just three games -- all with the Cowboys at the end of the 2015 season. He went 0-2 in his two starts, going 61-of-104 passing for 779 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions.
This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 11:30 PM with the headline "Why the Cowboys believe new QB coach Kellen Moore is a future coaching star."