Kellen Moore enters his fourth season as the team's offensive coordinator, fifth overall as a coach in Dallas.
Under Moore's guidance in 2021, the offense rose to new heights as the unit boasted the top offense in the NFL, leading the league in total offense (407.0 yards-per-game) and points-per-game (31.2 - and a franchise-best 530 total points) - a huge improvement from 2020 where the unit was 14th in total offense and 17th in scoring. Additionally, the offense tied for second in passing (282.4) and was ninth in rushing (124.6). Dak Prescott returned from his season-ending ankle injury in 2020 to throw for a franchise-record 37 touchdowns in 2021, while also setting single-season career-bests in completions (410) and completion percentage (68.6%) - third highest in team history. Prescott also recorded his second career 4,000-yard passing season (4,449 yards - fourth in franchise history) for a 104.2 quarterback rating (second-highest of his career; third in the NFL in 2021; fourth in team history). On the ground, Ezekiel Elliott recorded his fifth career 1,000-yard rushing season (1,002 - seventh in the NFL) and 10 touchdowns (third career year with double-digit rushing scores) as part of his 1,289 total scrimmage yards (287 receiving yards and two touchdowns). In his second season, CeeDee Lamb led the team with 79 catches for 1,102 yards (first career 1,000-yard season) and six touchdowns. Tight end Dalton Schultz had a breakout season with 78 receptions (second) for 808 yards (third) and eight touchdowns (tied-first) to join Jason Witten as the only Cowboys tight ends with 70 receptions and 800 receiving yards in a season. For their efforts, three offensive players were selected to the Pro Bowl in tackle Tyron Smith (eighth selection), guard Zack Martin (seventh) and receiver Lamb (first).
Moore's offense in 2020 was plagued with injury, limiting the group from reaching its peak potential. Through the first five weeks of the season, Prescott led all quarterbacks in passing yards (1,856) and 400-yard passing games (three) before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5 against the N.Y. Giants. Prescott also set an NFL record for the most passing yards (1,690) in the first four games of a season and the most consecutive games (three) with 450-plus passing yards. Due to Prescott's injury, Moore was forced to prepare three other quarterbacks during 2020, as Andy Dalton, rookie Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert each saw time behind center. It was the first time Dallas started four quarterbacks in a season since 2015. However, the offense still finished eighth in the NFL in passing (260.1), as Dalton led the team with 2,170 yards and 14 touchdowns. Amari Cooper led the offense with a career-high 92 receptions (fourth player in team history to reach 90 catches in a single season) for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns. Rookie Lamb was second on the team with a club rookie record 74 receptions for 935 yards (second) and five scores. Schultz, who filled in for an injured Blake Jarwin (knee), was third on the team with then career-highs in receptions (63 - fourth tight end in team history to reach 60 receptions in a season), yards (616) and touchdowns (four). In the ground game, Elliott finished 10th in the NFL with 979 yards on 244 carries (4.0 avg.) with six touchdowns. On the offensive line, the Cowboys were forced to shuffle eight different starting combinations due to injuries.
In his first year at the helm of the Cowboys offense (2019), Moore presided over the NFL's top-ranked offensive attack (431.5), the second-rated passing offense (296.9) and fifth-ranked running game (134.6). His offense guided the ascension of Prescott to finish second in the league in passing and set a career-high in passing yards (4,902 - second in team history) and then career-highs in passing touchdowns (30-fifth) and completions (388 - second), while becoming only the second Cowboys passer to reach 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in a season. The offense also featured Elliott, who was fourth in the NFL in rushing with 1,357 yards and 12 touchdowns but second with 1,777 scrimmage yards. Cooper also had a breakout campaign under Moore's tutelage, as he led the team and set then career-highs with 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns on 79 receptions (second in his career).
In total, Moore's offense produced five Pro Bowlers with three offensive linemen - Travis Frederick, Martin and Tyron Smith - running back Elliott and wide receiver Cooper.
Moore began his coaching career with the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 after six years as an NFL quarterback, the last three in Dallas.
After spending his first year in coaching as the quarterbacks coach, the Cowboys promoted Moore to offensive coordinator for the 2019 season, building on a foundation between him and Prescott that paid immediate dividends in 2018.
In his first season in the coaching ranks, Moore's work with Prescott allowed him to establish then career-bests in passing yards (3,885), attempts (526) and completions (356). Prescott, who was named to his second career Pro Bowl, helped lead Dallas to an NFC East Division Crown - the second in three years.
Moore had a six-year pro playing career, originally signing with the Detroit Lions as a rookie free agent following the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the Lions before landing in Dallas for three years (2015-17). He played in the first three games of his career with two starts in 2015, and in 2016, after breaking his leg in training camp, he remained active in daily preparations, working closely with then rookie Prescott, who led the team on an 11-game win streak and a franchise-record tying 13-3 finish.
Moore left Boise State as one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history, finishing his collegiate career with a 50-3 record - the most wins by a quarterback in NCAA history. When he left, his final passing numbers ranked in the top-10 in all major passing categories: second in touchdown passes (142), third in completion percentage (69.8), fifth in pass efficiency rating (169.0), sixth in passing yards (14,667) and tied for 10th in completions (1,157).
With Moore under center from 2008-11, Boise State claimed four consecutive 12-win seasons, including the school's first 14-0 record in school history. Additionally, the offense finished in the top-five in scoring in each of Moore's final three seasons, including a first place finish in 2009 and a second place rank in 2010.
He and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Halle and Madelyn, and a son, Kyler.
