Chargers Hire Kellen Moore as Offensive Coordinator Following Departure From Cowboys

The Chargers have a new offensive play caller.

After a thorough search to find a new offensive coordinator, the Chargers got their guy for the job.

The Chargers have agreed to terms with Kellen Moore to become the team's next offensive coordinator, the club announced Monday.

The decision to hire Moore came together quickly, finalizing a deal in less than 24 hours after it was announced that he and the Dallas Cowboys have mutually parted ways.

Moore, 34, has served as the Cowboys offensive coordinator since 2019. Across the last four seasons, the Dallas offense under Moore has ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total offense (391.0 net yards per game) and scoring (27.7 points per game).

Moore will inherit a Chargers offense that features one of the game's premier passers in Justin Herbert, a versatile running back in Austin Ekeler and a steady pairing at wide receiver that includes Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.

The Chargers offense finished ninth in yards per game (359) and 13th in points per game (23) last season. Injuries to their pass catching group limited the efficiency of the offense, paired with a running game that never fully found their footing, finishing the season 30th in rushing.

Chargers coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco have voiced their desire to find a coordinator that can uplift the rushing attack, linking the run game to the pass game. 

“I think that there is a different level that we need to play at, offensively, particularly at the line of scrimmage and in the run game, and having the marriage of the run and the pass, creating more explosions on early downs," Staley said at the start of their offensive coordinator search. "There is a style of play that is still out there for us." 

Moore has assembled an effective run game during his time calling plays for the Cowboys offense, deploying a one-two punch of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. In total, Moore's rushing attack finished the 2022 season ranking inside the top 10.

Prior to the Chargers speaking with Moore about the team's vacant play-calling position, they casted a wide net of offensive coordinator interviews, including Zac Robinson, Thomas Brown and Greg Olson of the Rams, Jerrod Johnson of the Vikings and Luke Steckle of the Titans.

Telesco stated that Herbert would have input through the hiring process of who ultimately is chosen to become the Chargers' next offensive coordinator.

Moore will be given the keys to the Chargers offense, taking over the reigns from Joe Lombardi, who was fired following the team's 31-30 playoff loss to the Jaguars. As the franchise turns the page over to Moore, there's optimism that he can further unlock the offense’s potential.

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• Chargers' East-West Shrine Bowl Notebook: Day 1 Wide Receiver Standouts
• Chargers: East-West Shrine Bowl Preview
• Chargers Complete Interviews With Five Offensive Coordinator Candidates as Coaching Search Heats Up

Nick Cothrel is the publisher of Charger Report. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickCothrel for more Chargers coverage.