REPORT: Saints’ Kellen Moore Not Facing Firing Despite Early-Season Struggles

NEW ORLEANS — Despite a wave of speculation across social media and sports talk radio, sources close to the New Orleans Saints indicate that head coach Kellen Moore is not on the hot seat, and no plans are in place to fire the second-year head coach.

The rumor mill went into overdrive following the Saints’ frustrating 35-27 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, a game in which New Orleans squandered a 27-16 third-quarter lead by surrendering 19 unanswered points and turning the ball over four times in the fourth quarter .

But according to multiple reports and team insiders, Moore’s job remains secure as the Saints navigate the early portion of the 2026 season.

“Not Going Anywhere”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that Moore “will be back” as New Orleans’ head coach, a sentiment that was echoed when Moore was originally hired to replace Dennis Allen .

The Saints finished the 2025 season with a 6-11 record, but closed with a strong 5-4 finish after a disastrous 1-8 start. Moore’s work with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough impressed many around the league, and the organization viewed 2025 as a rebuilding year with an uninspiring roster .

“This was never going to be a championship season in New Orleans, and Moore’s work has impressed people around the league,” Rapoport and Pelissero wrote at the time .

That patience has carried into 2026, where the Saints entered the season with renewed optimism behind Shough and an offense Moore carefully constructed to fit his vision .

Why the Loss Stung

The Week 3 collapse against Las Vegas was particularly painful because the Saints were “a few plays away from being 3-0” .

After erasing a 21-point deficit at Detroit in Week 1 — only to lose in overtime on a failed two-point conversion — New Orleans rallied to defeat Baltimore on the road in Week 2 for its first win of the season . That victory silenced skeptics, at least temporarily, who questioned whether Moore had the team pointed in the right direction .

But the home opener against the Raiders exposed the growing pains of a young team learning how to win.

“There was a lot of good,” Moore said Monday after reviewing the film. “Ultimately, we didn’t get it done” .

Moore pointed to ball security as the critical failure. Four turnovers on three fumbles and an interception in the final four possessions cost the Saints dearly in an eight-point loss .

“The big thing for us is take the emotion out of it and just keep going,” Moore said. “We all get to learn stuff from each and every game” .

Building for the Future

Moore’s roster construction has been deliberate and offensive-minded. The Saints added running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and drafted a top-10 wide receiver to pair with Chris Olave, all with the goal of surrounding Shough with playmakers .

That approach has drawn praise from around the league, even as the results on the field have been uneven.

Moore, a former Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, has also earned respect for his leadership style. Saints wide receiver Chris Olave publicly praised Moore’s offense and leadership, emphasizing the coach’s ability to connect with players .

The Road Ahead

New Orleans enters a critical stretch of its schedule, beginning with a Monday Night Football showdown against the Atlanta Falcons — a game that carries emotional significance as the franchise honors the 20th anniversary of Steve Gleason’s iconic punt block .

The Saints remain in a wide-open NFC South, where no team has more than one victory through the first three weeks . A win over Atlanta would push New Orleans back to .500 and quiet the outside noise.

Moore, for his part, has maintained the same steady message he has delivered since arriving in New Orleans: keep building, keep climbing.

“The biggest challenge in the NFL is the riding of the roller coaster, so to speak, and the emotions of every game,” Moore said. “You’ve got to be able to respond and just keep building and keep climbing” .

The Bottom Line

The reports of Kellen Moore’s impending dismissal are premature. The Saints’ organizational leadership has demonstrated patience with their young head coach, understanding that rebuilding a franchise does not happen overnight.

With a developing quarterback, a revamped offense, and a locker room that believes in its coach, New Orleans is focused on the long game — not reactionary moves based on a single fourth-quarter collapse.

Moore will be on the sideline Monday night, and barring an unforeseen disaster, he will be there for the foreseeable future.