When everybody expects him to zig, Jerry Jones zags.

All signs pointed toward Kellen Moore returning to the Dallas Cowboys as Mike McCarthy’s replacement. Jones had other ideas, hiring Brian Schottenheimer in the biggest shock of this year’s coaching cycle.

Moore is the leading candidate to land the New Orleans Saints’ head coach job, but nothing is guaranteed — Liam Coen taught us that.

It hurt watching Moore, a former Cowboys player and longtime assistant coach, help the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl 59. Hiring him to replace McCarthy the following day may have eased the pain somewhat.

Moore was seemingly on his way to New Orleans, but Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has other ideas.

Cowboys’ decision to snub Kellen Moore could backfire after Nick Sirianni’s comments

Moore is a Super Bowl champion with the Eagles, but he’s now destined to take a head coach job. Right? Well, maybe not.

Speaking to the TV broadcast after the game, Sirianni made one last attempt to keep Moore in Philadelphia.

“Let’s run this s— back, Kellen,” said Sirianni.

Wait, what? That’s not how this was supposed to play out. Jerry Jones’ decision could yet screw over the Cowboys in the NFC East. Moore has proven himself as an excellent offensive coordinator, and he could become an even better head coach.

But the Saints’ job isn’t exactly the most desirable landing spot for any future head coach, considering their salary cap mess.

What if Sirianni can convince Moore to stick around in Philadelphia? Schottenheimer’s task to lead Dallas back to the NFC East title would become far more challenging.

When the Cowboys hired Schottenheimer over Moore, we all assumed Moore would still get a head coach gig elsewhere.

There’s at least a non-zero chance he will return to Philadelphia and remain a division rival for at least another year.

Schottenheimer may become an incredible head coach. Perhaps hiring Moore wouldn’t have worked out.

But there’s no doubt that replacing McCarthy, a Super Bowl winner and highly successful NFL head coach, with the inexperienced and unproven Schottenheimer is a risk.

It may also directly benefit the Eagles as they look to retain their Super Bowl title in 2025.