Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore Fires Back at Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales’ “Washed-Up Team” Remark: “We May Be Struggling, But Don’t Ever Mistake That for Surrender.”

Saints Head Coach Kellen Moore Fires Back at Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales’ “Washed-Up Team” Remark: “We May Be Struggling, But Don’t Ever Mistake That for Surrender.”

New Orleans, Louisiana – November 8, 2025

Tensions across the NFC South are reaching their peak as the New Orleans Saints (1–8) continue to struggle through one of their toughest seasons in years, while the Carolina Panthers (5–4) under Dave Canales have emerged as a surprise contender for a playoff spot. Ahead of Sunday’s matchup, Canales sparked outrage across the league when he mocked the Saints, saying they were “past their prime — just a name living off old glory.”

The comment quickly reached Kellen Moore, and as expected, the young Saints head coach didn’t stay silent. During Saturday’s press conference at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Moore appeared calm on the surface, but his tone carried the weight of defiance — and pride.

“We’ve lost, yes,” Moore said firmly. “But don’t ever confuse losing with weakness. The teams that have fallen the hardest are often the ones that understand the value of standing back up. We may be down, but don’t ever mistake that for surrender.”

He paused for a moment, his voice lowering but his message cutting deeper.

“They say the Saints are finished — maybe so. But it’s in the darkest moments that the fire of New Orleans burns the brightest. We’re not promising miracles. What we’re promising is that when the whistle blows, the Panthers will see a team that still fights for pride, for respect, and for every inch of the field.”

According to ESPN, despite sitting at the bottom of the division, Moore still has the unwavering support of his players. Sources inside the locker room say the Saints have written Canales’ “washed-up team” quote on the whiteboard — not as a taunt, but as a reminder of what they’re playing for.

The Panthers may enter this matchup as clear favorites, but in New Orleans, people know one thing better than anyone: never underestimate a team that’s learned to rise from its ruins.

And as Kellen Moore declared, Sunday won’t just be a football game — it will be a statement that the Saints’ fire, no matter how faint it may seem, has never truly gone out.