New Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Kenny Moore has always worked tirelessly to overcome the odds. Undersized at 5-foot-9 by NFL standards and undrafted out of Valdosta State back in 2017, he hasn't just stuck on a roster; he's stood out year after year.
The Valdosta, Georgia native was first signed, then released, by the New England Patriots before enjoying a tremendous nine-year run with the Colts, where he earned Pro Bowl honors and was also elected team captain. His time spent in Indianapolis, of course, overlapped with the tenure there of current Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, who served as the offensive coordinator in Indy from 2018 to 2020.
Throw in the Philly and Indy coaching connections between Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon, and the relationship already carries plenty of weight for the newest Birds defensive back and the current Philadelphia staff led by Sirianni.
Nick Sirianni talked about Kenny Moore's impact on Eagles after signing
Sirianni has been around Moore plenty and has always thought highly of him. He offered a major stamp of approval after general manager Howie Roseman brought Moore in on a one-year deal this past week.
"I think the world of Kenny Moore, he is a really good football player, really good person, great teammate." Sirianni said per Philadelphiaeagles.com. "Being able to add him to our team is a big deal and I'm pumped about it."
Moore, cut back in May by his former AFC South franchise, arrives in Philly with a clean slate and a coach he also has a strong affinity for. And while the one-year deal had him pegged for the practice squad, at least initially, that could change quickly, as soon as Monday night in Chicago.
While much of Moore's experience (21 career interceptions) has come at corner, he has some experience at safety, so the savvy vet will look to get snaps under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio at both slot and safety. One can't rule out Cooper DeJean getting more burn at safety, but most likely, Moore will get back to work at safety and possibly push the starting duo of Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba for key reps.
For Moore, it's a new beginning, and just as he's always done since breaking into the league with little fanfare while fighting to beat steep odds, he's already embracing the challenge:
"Nothing that I did before matters to me, I feel like I'm a rookie all over again," Moore said. "So, I just want to turn the page and give all I can to this team, give all I can to this community."
Along with fellow vet Michael Carter II, Fangio now has two established defensive backs vying for playing time, and safety may be where one or both eventually enter the picture.
After a strong start to the season in Week 1, Mukuba and Epps struggled in the team's road win in Tennessee, but they are still getting acclimated to playing together as starters.
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With Moore now on board, Fangio will have more versatility and depth, and for Sirianni and the Eagles' locker room, adding the former Colt is a big win either way.
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