Sometimes the past has a funny way of sneaking up on the present. In a quiet moment inside the New Orleans Saints’ facility, a single photo sparked disbelief, laughter, and genuine amazement among a room full of NFL players. It wasn’t a highlight reel or a championship trophy that caught their attention, but a snapshot frozen in time — one that revealed their coach as a former Heisman Trophy finalist. For many of the Saints, it was a reminder that greatness doesn’t always look the way you expect it to, especially when time, hairstyles, and generations get in the way.
“WAIT, WHAT?”
That was the immediate reaction from New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson when a photo was placed in front of him and his teammates. It wasn’t a trick question or a surprising stat sheet. It was just a picture — four college football stars standing together in New York City, dressed sharply, smiling for the cameras. But one of the faces in that image didn’t quite match the version of the man the Saints players know today.
The guy on the far left, sporting a shaggy, mop-top haircut that looked more Beatles than ballplayer, was the source of the confusion. That guy was Kellen Moore — the same Kellen Moore who now walks the Saints’ halls as a respected coach, calling plays and breaking down film.
The reactions came quickly and honestly.
“Coach was a Heisman finalist?” wide receiver Mason Tipton asked, clearly stunned.
Cornerback Isaac Yiadom leaned in for a closer look and shook his head in disbelief. “I didn’t even realize he was young enough to have played at the same time as Cam Newton,” he said.
Their surprise was understandable. Many of the Saints’ current players weren’t even teenagers 15 years ago, when Moore was rewriting the record books at Boise State and establishing himself as one of the most efficient quarterbacks college football has ever seen. To them, Moore has always been the coach — calm, methodical, detail-oriented. Seeing him as a national superstar candidate required a complete mental reset.
But there he was in the photo, taken inside a New York City theater following the 2010 college football season. Moore stood alongside Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, and Oregon running back LaMichael James. All four were finalists for the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in college football.
Although Moore didn’t win that year, the moment remains one of the defining highlights of his football journey.
“It was a cool experience,” Moore said when reflecting on that weekend. “It was the first time a guy from Boise State had ever been to anything like that. So it was cool to represent the school and be a part of that moment. It was fun.”
That sentence alone captures the magnitude of what Moore accomplished. Boise State was already earning respect as a giant-killer program, but Moore elevated the Broncos to a new level of national recognition. Being invited to New York wasn’t just a personal honor; it was a statement that elite football could exist outside the traditional powerhouses.
Moore’s 2010 season was nothing short of remarkable. He led Boise State to a perfect regular season, throwing for 3,845 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing passes with machine-like efficiency. His calm command of the offense and mistake-free style made him one of the most dependable quarterbacks in the country.
Despite his numbers, Moore finished fourth in the Heisman voting behind Newton, Luck, and James — all players who went on to have major impacts at the professional level. Newton, of course, won the award after one of the most dominant individual seasons in college football history.
Moore returned to Boise State the following year and somehow managed to top himself. In 2011, he threw for 3,800 yards and 43 touchdowns as the Broncos once again finished 12-1. He placed eighth in the Heisman voting that season, finishing just three spots behind LSU star Tyrann Mathieu, who would later become a standout safety for the Saints.
That year’s Heisman went to Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, whose electrifying style captivated the nation.
Time has a way of compressing eras, especially in football. What feels like ancient history to today’s players is still very real to those who lived it. Moore’s Heisman weekend might feel like a trivia question to younger Saints players, but to Moore, it represents validation — proof that his style of play, leadership, and preparation mattered at the highest level.
Another name will soon be added to the long list of Heisman winners and finalists. Saturday night, college football will once again turn its attention to New York City as the finalists gather for the ceremony. This year’s group includes Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
For each of them, the experience will be unforgettable, regardless of who walks away with the trophy.
Saints defensive end Chase Young knows that feeling well.
Six years ago, Young was in their shoes, sitting among the finalists after a dominant season at Ohio State. In 2019, Young recorded 16½ sacks, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks and redefining what a defensive player could do in the modern college game.
“It was crazy and a helluva environment with a lot going on,” Young said. “It was surreal. I wouldn’t say growing up I dreamed about going to the Heisman, because that wasn’t something I ever thought about. It was one of those things that just happened. I was just blessed to be there.”
Young finished fourth in the voting that year, behind LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, and Ohio State teammate Justin Fields. Burrow’s historic season ultimately left little room for debate, but Young’s presence in New York carried special significance.
Had he won, Young would have become the first defensive player to claim the Heisman since Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson in 1997.
Woodson himself made that point clear to Young during the ceremony.
“You know if you didn’t get suspended, you would have won this thing,” Woodson told him.
Young had been suspended for two games that season due to receiving an unauthorized loan from a family friend — a decision that cost him valuable playing time and, potentially, history.
“I could have had six more sacks with those two games,” Young said. “I was unblockable that year.”
Even with those missed games, it’s hard to argue that Young’s performance alone could have overtaken Burrow’s video-game numbers during LSU’s national championship run. Still, the conversation highlights how thin the margins can be when history is on the line.
For Young, however, the meaning of the moment extends far beyond the final voting results.
“I tell people this all the time,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you spend three years in the league, two years in the league or one year in the league. The fact that we made it to the Heisman ceremony, you’re a legend.”
That sentiment connects Young’s experience to Moore’s in a powerful way. Neither man won the trophy, but both earned a permanent place in college football history. Both reached a level that millions of players dream of and only a handful ever achieve.
The New Orleans Saints, as a franchise, are uniquely tied to Heisman history. Several former Saints players have hoisted the trophy during their college careers, including Earl Campbell, George Rogers, Danny Wuerffel, Ricky Williams, Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram, and Jameis Winston.
Each of those names carries its own story, its own path from college stardom to the professional game. Some became legends, others faced adversity, but all were part of a rare fraternity.
Moore now contributes to that legacy from the sidelines rather than the spotlight. His playing days may be behind him, but his influence continues through preparation, mentorship, and leadership. For younger Saints players, learning that their coach once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the greatest players of his generation adds a new layer of respect.
It also serves as a reminder that football journeys don’t always follow straight lines. Moore was never the most physically gifted quarterback, never the fastest or strongest. What he had was command, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way.
That same approach defines him as a coach today.
As the Saints players laughed and reacted to the photo, there was more than humor in the moment. There was connection — between eras, between college and professional football, between who players were and who they have become.
And somewhere in that shared reaction was a quiet realization: greatness doesn’t disappear with time. Sometimes, it just grows a headset, trades the mop-top haircut for a play sheet, and waits for the next generation to discover the story.
Even if some of them are too young to remember it.
