Change is the Only Constant at Coordinator Spots for Eagles

In 2020 when Jalen Hurts was drafted in the second round, the coaching staff was nothing like it is today nearly five years later. Doug Pederson was the Head Coach, there was an Offensive Coordinator by Committee setup with Press Taylor as Passing Game Coordinator, and Jeff Stoutland as Run Game Coordinator. Former Offensive Coordinators Rich Scangarello, and Marty Mornhinweg both had a voice in play calling as well. Duce Staley was the Assistant Head Coach, and TJ Pagnatti was assisting Staley with RBs and Stoutland with Coordinating the Run Game. 

Jim Schwartz was the Defensive Coordinator, had Dino Vasso as his Assistant Coordinator, and Former Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke as his Run Game Coordinator. Dave Fipp was the Special Teams Coordinator. 

Starting over as a Sophomore QB 

Since then the Eagles fired the staff, and brought in Nick Sirianni as Head Coach. With him came Assistant Head Coach/RB Coach Jemal Singleton, Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen, Passing Game Coordinator Kevin Patullo, with Jeff Stoutland retaining his previous titles. T.J. Paganetti was retained but his new title was Offensive Quality Control. Jonathan Gannon was hired as Defensive Coordinator, with Michael Clay taking over special teams. 

In this process, Jalen Hurts was tabbed as the new starting quarterback, with Carson Wentz traded away. After a 4-12 season in 2020, the new look Eagles would finish 9-8 in season one together. Heading into season two, the staff stayed largely intact. The main changes came via promotions for Alex Tanney who was now the Assistant Quarterback Coach, and Dennard Wilson who added Passing Game Coordinator duties to his title after overseeing Defensive Backs in 2021. Familiar roles for the former NFL Safety. Also hired was Vic Fangio who worked in a consulting role with the defense. 

This combination saw Jalen Hurts and company produce their best season yet with a 14-3 record. Hurts missed two games both of which ended in defeat for the Eagles meaning he was 14-1 during the regular season. Despite starting the same amount of games Hurts had a better completion rate, more passing yards, and touchdowns, as well as less interceptions. He also produced more rushing touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl, made 2nd Team All-Pro, finishing second in MVP voting, and third in Offensive Player of the Year voting. 

The Eagles rolled all the way to the Super Bowl playing their former Head Coach Andy Reid and the man who was named MVP over Hurts, Patrick Mahomes. After holding a 24 to 14 lead heading into the 3rd quarter, the Eagles would fall 38-35 to the Chiefs. As the confetti fell Jalen Hurts snapped a picture to remind himself of the motivation for his future success. 

Success Costs Eagles Both Coordinators

After the game Philadelphia’s staff was raided by other teams. Jonathan Gannon whose unit had given up 24 second half points, including 17 in the 4th quarter was hired by the Arizona Cardinals. With him went former linebackers coach Nick Rallis as his new Defensive Coordinator.

After initially offering the job to Josh McDaniels who had already begun to build a staff, Indy was forced to find another candidate when McDaniels backed out. That candidate became Shane Steichen. This meant the Eagles were losing both coordinators. 

The attrition didn’t stop there however. Dennard Wilson also left for Baltimore. Vic Fangio was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their Defensive Coordinator. 

Promoting Within to Fill Offensive Coordinator Spot

More promotions were handed out. Kevin Patullo added Associate Head Coach to his duties. Brian Johnson the former Quarterbacks Coach was named Offensive Coordinator, his assistant Alex Tanney took over as Quarterbacks Coach. D.K McDonald, Dennard Wilson’s assistant DB Coach in 2022 was promoted to DB coach. TJ Paganetti was promoted to Assistant Tight Ends Coach, and Run Game Specialist. Marcus Brady was promoted to Senior Offensive Assistant giving him a bigger voice as well. 

New faces included Defensive Coordinator Sean Desai, Linebackers Coach D.J. Eliot, Senior Defensive Assistant Matt Patricia, Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Taver Johnson, Nickelbacks Coach Ronell Williams, and Defensive Quality Control Mike Di’Angelo. 

In 2023 the offense took a step backwards. Situational play calling was atrocious, and it showed when the team lost 5 of their last 6 games. They finished second in their own division at 11-6, backing into the playoffs as a wildcard team. During the season the defense was as bad as it had been in years. Finishing ranked 26th overall, the team won the majority of their games in tight shoot outs with their defense giving up points at will. 

Of their 11 wins, 8 were within a score and none had more than a two score deficit. Both units hit rock bottom in the Wild Card round of the playoffs when they lost to the Buccaneers 32-9. This loss spurred major changes just a year away from a Super Bowl berth. Shortly after this loss Brian Johnson, Alex Tanney, Sean Desai, and Matt Patricia were all fired. Many more coaches on defense would leave as well. Jason Kelce, and Fletcher Cox both chose to retire after long careers with the Eagles. 

Super Bowl or Bust 

Heading into 2024, the Eagles would hire Kellen Moore, and amidst some controversy bring back Vic Fangio this time as Defensive Coordinator. Former Seahawks Defensive Coordinator Clint Hurtt was hired to oversee the Defensive Line, Christian Parker was hired as the Defensive Backs Coach and Passing Game Coordinator. Roy Anderson was hired to coach cornerbacks, Joe Kasper was hired to oversee Safeties. Bobby King was hired as Inside Linebackers Coach, and Tyler Skudder came in as Defensive Quality Control. 

On offense, Doug Nussmeier was hired as QB Coach following Kellen Moore once again after working with him in Dallas and Los Angeles. Kyle Valero was hired as an Offensive Assistant, every other coach retained their roles. 

“Down Year” for Jalen Hurts 

During the offseason the Eagles made one big splash signing bringing in Saquon Barkley, while double-dipping at cornerback in the draft, and signing former Saints Special Teams Ace Zach Baun at Linebacker. Despite the minimal changes the Eagles were able to finish with a 14-3 record. During the season many media pundits criticized the offense as Hurts collected his lowest total for passing yards, and touchdowns, in his four seasons as a full-time starter. 

They failed to recognize that during this “down season” he also managed a career high in completion rate, his lowest interception total as a starter, tied a career high in yards per pass attempt, as well as a career high in QB rating. He also added 630 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. His fourth straight season with 600+ rushing yards and 10 or more rushing touchdowns. 

Saquon Barkley was on pace to topple the single season rushing yard record before being benched in the final week of the season. Aj Brown missed 4 games and still topped 1,000 yards receiving. DeVonta Smith set a career high in receiving touchdowns while missing 4 games. Grant Calcaterra also had a career year. 

During the playoffs this offense really showed what they could do at their peak. In four games they scored 145 points including a 55 point output in the NFC Championship game, and 40 points in a Super Bowl victory. Nick Sirianni’s first Super Bowl victory as a Head Coach against a team that handed him defeat just 2 seasons ago.

Kellen Moore, No Longer a Coordinator

Heading into that Super Bowl it was leaked that Kellen Moore had quietly been offered the Head Coaching position for the New Orleans Saints. After the game it was announced that he had in fact accepted the position with the Saints. It is believed Doug Nussmeier could follow him for a third time this time as his Offensive Coordinator with the Saints, and rumor is Brandon Staley the Head Coach he worked for with the Chargers could join him as the Defensive Coordinator. There is a possibility other members of the Eagles’ staff could leave as well although as of right now it is believed Vic Fangio and Michael Clay will stay in their Coordinator roles for 2025. 

https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1889478587058622827

To recap, the Eagles will be hiring their fourth different Offensive Coordinator under Nick Siriani in just five seasons. They have also had three different Defensive Coordinators during that stretch. Despite the changes Siranni stands just 4 wins behind George Seifert for most ever by a Head Coach in their first four seasons. Seifert also only won a single Super Bowl, and had three divisional titles. Sirianni has two divisional titles, and has never finished below second in the NFC East. He’s been to two Super Bowls, and won one.  

Targets for 2025 

Looking back at how the Eagles have hired Offensive Coordinators, they could look to a few different paths. Either promoting from within, hiring someone Sirianni is familiar with from his past or hiring an experienced candidate that is currently available. Should the Eagles follow a similar path to the one they took during the hiring of Vic Fangio, we could see Siriani tap an old friend as their Offensive Coordinator. 

Frank Reich, Former Indianapolis Colts/Carolina Panthers Head Coach

Frank Reich served as a mentor and confidant to Nick Siriani since they worked together in Indianapolis. Reich also sat out the 2024 season and was not mentioned as a candidate for any Head Coaching vacancies this offseason. Should Reich return to the sidelines a reunion with Siriani in a city Reich once won a Super Bowl as an Offensive Coordinator makes too much sense not to pursue. Not only would this give the Eagles an accomplished play caller but it would result in a staff that sticks together for many years to come. 

Reich is a two-time Head Coach and collectively he has a 41-43-1 record as well as a 1-2 playoff record. Vic Fangio has been a Head Coach once before and collected a 19-30 record. While it is not out of the realm of possibility that either man receives interest in the coming years, both may be better coordinators than they are Head Coaches. 

Being in Philadelphia pairs them with a winning organization, arguably one of the best GMs in football, and one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. This could be exactly what the Eagles need to go from a situation where they have been a playoff contender every year with a revolving door on the coaching staff to a dynasty with a veteran staff that can keep them in Super Bowl contention yearly. 

Kevin Patullo, Current Passing Game Coordinator/Associate Head Coach

Another in house candidate could be Kevin Patullo. Patullo and Sirianni have now worked together for seven seasons straight. Initially hired to oversee the same position Sirianni once played, wide receiver, with the Colts in 2018, the two coaches have found a lot of success together. However at no point during his career has Patullo served as an Offensive Coordinator. 

He has sat by and watched as Shane Steichen, Jonathan Gannon, and Kellen Moore were all hired as Head Coaches with other teams despite his pivotal role in the success of the Eagles Patullo has not gotten the same interest. Heading into 2025, he may feel its time to step out from under Sirianni’s shadow and try and find his chance to run a team. 

Serving as the Passing Game Coordinator since 2021, and Associate Head Coach in 2023, he may be wondering when its his time to shine. That time could come in 2025. Sirianni has often been criticized for being too hands on with the offense despite handing the reigns to three separate coaches as his coordinators. Promoting Patullo could be the closest thing to running the offense himself after so long working hand in hand. 

Jemal Singleton, Current Assistant Head Coach/RB Coach

Jemal Singleton is another member of the current staff who has not yet served as an Offensive Coordinator during his 20+ years as a coach. Having served as the running backs coach under noted offensive coaches such as Jon Gruden, Zac Taylor, Brian Callahan, Nick Sirianni, (briefly) Liam Coen, Shane Steichen, and Kellen Moore, he may be ready to put his own spin on offensive play calling. 

As noted with Patullo, for whatever reason when teams have raided the Eagles’ staff in years past, Singleton has not gotten the attention others have as a potential Head Coach. Serving as Sirianni’s Assistant Head Coach since 2021 he has seen how Sirianni and many others have crafted this Eagles offense. He also would still have the assistance of Patullo, and Stoutland who would likely retain their roles as Pass Game Coordinator and Run Game Coordinator respectively. 

As mentioned with Patullo this could be another way for Singleton to build his resume, and for Sirianni to retain some semblance of control over the offense. 

Promoting from within whether it is Patullo, Singleton or someone else would also still allow for Sirianni to offer Frank Reich a desirable role on his staff. If Patullo gets the call, Reich can assume his exact job title, while also working directly with Quarterbacks. If Singleton is the guy Reich can still come in as Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach. Giving the Eagles an experienced mentor alongside Sirianni to assist a first time play caller in their ascent. 

Norv Turner, NFL Offensive Coordinator for 13 Years

An unlikely but interesting candidate could be long-time Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner. Most recently with the Las Vegas Raiders as a senior advisor, Turner assisted his son who was named interim Offensive Coordinator after the Raiders fired Luke Getsy. 

Turner has been an Offensive Coordinator for 14 seasons total during his career. He also has 15 years of experience as a Head Coach in the NFL. He could be a valuable asset for the Eagles if he would even entertain the job. Prior to joining the Raiders he had been out of coaching for 4 seasons. He could potentially follow Scott Turner to the Jets in 2025 as well. However it could be a call worth making. 

Turner last served as an Offensive Coordinator during the 2018-2019 seasons with the Carolina Panthers working with Cam Newton. He is no stranger to working with mobile quarterbacks over the years. 

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