Pros and cons of Cowboys firing Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff will look a lot different in 2023. While Dan Quinn is returning for a third year as defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was surprisingly let go Sunday night.

Joining Moore on the chopping block are offensive line coach Joe Philbin, running backs coach Skip Peete, linebackers coach George Edwards, quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, assistant head coach Rob Davis, and offensive assistant Kyle Valero.

Incredibly, Quinn is the most important of those names.

Not far behind, though, is Moore, whose departure leaves the Cowboys without an offensive coordinator for the first time in four years. Fans aren’t sure what to make of the move, but they’ve made their opinions heard on social media in terms of who they don’ want Dallas to hire to replace the 33-year-old play-caller.

Unfortunately, we can’t rewrite history. Moore is now the Chargers offensive coordinator, and fans are left to make sense of the decision to let him go.

What better way to do that than to make a pros and cons list?

Pros and cons of the Cowboys firing Kellen Moore

Pro: A shake-up isn’t always a bad thing

Is it fair to ask if Dak Prescott maximized his potential in Moore’s system? Might the Cowboys quarterback reach new heights with a new face calling plays? You certainly can’t rule it out. At the end of the day, Dallas success hinges on Prescott’s play, and he was objectively subpar (for his standards) this season.

If scapegoating Moore is what it takes to get Dak back to clicking on all cylinders, then it will be a worthwhile sacrifice.

Con: Is Mike McCarthy a worthwhile replacement?

If you take a look around the NFL, not many head coaches are responsible for orchestrating their offense in terms of play-calling. Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur, and Doug Pederson are just some of the names who embrace that challenge every Sunday. By every metric, they’re the best in the business.

McCarthy called the shots during his Packers days, but Kellen Moore has been the Cowboys’ primary play-caller since McCarthy arrived on the scene in 2020. McCarthy won a Super Bowl calling plays as Green Bay’s head coach, but fans are right to question whether this old dog can learn new tricks.

Pro: Kellen Moore struggled with consistency

This was perhaps Cowboys fans’ biggest gripe with Moore during his reign as offensive coordinator. For all of the peaks Dallas’ offense enjoyed under Moore’s tutelage, the valleys were just as prominent, and debilitating to winning.

His game management and situational play-calling left a lot to be desired as well, so perhaps McCarthy and whomever is appointed as Moore’s replacement will have a better grasp of how to navigate the intricacies of a 60-minute game.