Christian Verde/New Orleans Saints
By Ross Jackson
The first New Orleans Saints preseason game is almost here, and the team’s new playcallers are wasting no time getting into the swing of executing their gameplans.
Head coach Kellen Moore confirmed during his Friday media availability that he will call the offensive plays during the first exhibition matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will call the defense.
Moore has made it clear that he intends to retain playcalling responsibilities on the offensive side after becoming a head coach this offseason.
For the #Saints’ preseason game:
Kellen Moore will call offensive plays
Brandon Staley will call defensive plays— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) August 9, 2025
Moore has called several explosive and successful offenses during his previous tenure as an NFL coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.
Staley called defenses from 2020 with the Los Angeles Rams through his time with the Chargers until 2023. Last year, he was the assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and did not call plays during that time.
As he re-takes the reins in New Orleans, he’ll get started immediately in the preseason.
Neither decision is a surprise. The two talented playcallers are on a new team, working with new plays and are in new positions to a varying extent. Both of them hitting the ground running and getting into a rhythm with their players is crucial.
Sometimes teams will allow position coaches or other assistants to call plays during the preseason. But with the new environment, the tandem are getting right to work.
Both Moore and Staley have also called plays during the team’s two scrimmages in training camp. In their first scrimmage, the coaches called 126 plays. In their second, they called 66. So with 172 playcalls already under their belt, the duo is well-prepared for Sunday’s action.
