Cowboys OC Kellen Moore reportedly not out of running in Panthers’ HC search

Three men got a second interview from the Carolina Panthers in their ongoing search for a new head coach. And as we move into Thursday, the prevailing feeling is that the hunt is really down to two men—Steve Wilks and Frank Reich.

But according to MMQB senior NFL reporter Albert Breer, that third man is not out of it just yet.

On Wednesday night, Breer tweeted that Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore should not be counted out of the job. Moore, fresh off a divisional round defeat to the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday night, interviewed with the Panthers in person each of the past two days.

The Panthers’ second interview with their interim coach, Steve Wilks, took place last night, I’m told. Also, I wouldn’t discount Cowboys OC Kellen Moore here—he’s not out of the race as Carolina comes down the home stretch. https://t.co/lPgFlFlFjT

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 26, 2023

What differentiates Moore from his challengers in Wilks and Reich is, obviously, age. At just 34 years old, the former quarterback seemingly fits the bill of what owner David Tepper had looked for early on—a young, offensive-minded play caller.

He’s had success in that role for Dallas, as he pieced together the NFL’s No. 1 offense in two of his four years as their offensive coordinator. This past season, the team ranked 11th in total offense (354.9 yards per game) and fourth in scoring (27.5 points per game).

Will his lack of head coaching experience, however, keep him a distant third in this race? It seems like we’ll find out very soon.