UNDENIEIABLE PROOF: Cowboys’ Biggest Coaching Blunder Was Letting Kellen Moore Walk

 

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 season ended in a familiar way—early in the playoffs, with more questions than answers. But one glaring mistake stands out as the root of their offensive struggles: letting Kellen Moore walk.

Moore, who served as Dallas’ offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022, was pushed out in favor of head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling duties. The result? A predictable, inconsistent offense that stalled when it mattered most.

Under Moore, the Cowboys ranked top five in scoring in three of his four seasons, maximizing quarterback Dak Prescott’s strengths and unlocking playmakers like CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard. But with McCarthy calling plays in 2023, Dallas’ offense regressed against top competition. While the regular-season stats looked solid on paper, the offense repeatedly failed in critical moments—most notably in their embarrassing 48-32 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Meanwhile, Moore spent the 2023 season as the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator, and though their season was plagued by injuries, his impact was undeniable. Quarterback Justin Herbert thrived in Moore’s system before being sidelined, and even backup Easton Stick looked competent in relief.

The biggest indictment against Dallas’ decision? Prescott had one of his worst playoff performances without Moore’s guidance, throwing two costly interceptions in the loss to Green Bay. The lack of creativity in the Cowboys’ game plan was apparent, with predictable play calls and an inability to adjust.

Moore wasn’t perfect—his play-calling occasionally leaned too pass-heavy—but his ability to craft explosive, modern offenses was a strength Dallas sorely missed. McCarthy’s old-school approach didn’t elevate the Cowboys—it held them back.

With Moore now a rising name in coaching circles, potentially eyeing a future head coaching job, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the front office must face an uncomfortable truth: their biggest coaching mistake wasn’t hiring McCarthy. It was letting Kellen Moore go.

As Dallas enters another offseason filled with uncertainty, one question lingers: where would they be if Moore had stayed? The answer might be painful for Cowboys fans to hear.