The Eagles have two more candidates to succeed Kevin Patullo as their offensive coordinator: Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka and Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter.
Kafka interviewed for the job on Saturday, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He has also received OC interest from the Lions and the Buccaneer, in addition to an earlier interview for the permanent head coaching gig in New York that will go to John Harbaugh. Harbaugh is expected to bring in his own staff, so Kafka will not continue as the Giants’ OC, either.
Though Kafka is better known for his coaching stints with the Chiefs and the Giants, he began his NFL career as an Eagles fourth-round pick in 2010. He appeared in four games in 2011, his only regular-season action in his six years in the league. He retired from playing in 2015, spent a year as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Northwestern, before joining Andy Reid‘s staff in Kansas City. He played a crucial role in developing Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ passing game in general, which helped him secure the OC job under Brian Daboll in New York. The Eagles may be interested in that expertise to revitalize an air attack that sputtered out at the end of the seasons.
The Eagles also requested an interview with Cooter, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. He has a more recent connection to Philadelphia. He served as a consultant on Nick Sirianni‘s staff in 2021, when he first worked under then-Eagles OC and now-Colts head coach Shane Steichen. After a year as the Jaguars’ passing game coordinator under Doug Pederson, Cooter took his current job in Indianapolis. The Eagles’ OC job would appear to be a lateral move, but Cooter would have his first play-calling opportunity since his three-year stint as the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018. Teams hiring head coaches are increasingly looking for proven play-callers, making it more difficult to vault from a non-play-calling OC position directly into a top job.
The NovaCare Complex is gonna be egged should the Eagles bring in anyone from the Giants as offensive coordinator.
This is a really dumb comment. Mike Kafka is from Andy Reid’s coaching tree and was on his Chiefs offensive coaching staff. You want to know who else has that in common? Eagles Super Bowl winning coaches Doug Peterson and Nick Sirianni. And if your problem is hiring an OC from a division rival Kellen Moore was the Cowboys OC and was a criticized hire.
The Philadelphia Eagles are the historical tormenters of the New York Football Giants. Chuck Bednarik … Herman Edwards … Brian Westbrook … DeSean Jackson … Saquon Barkley.
And since NFL nerds love to bring up a “coaching tree”, Brian Daboll was anointed “Coach of the Year” for a season when he went 0-5 vs. Philly and Dallas. Daboll’s career record in the Linc is 0-4 — and that’s one of the most difficult venues for any visiting team. Even Denver poached a win in the Linc this season.
Ignore the Eagles-Giants legacy at your peril.
The place is pretty secure. They’d see you coming from a block away in any direction. You’ll be in the back of a cop car before you know it. All the best.
The Eagles need to hire an OC with proven play calling skills preferentially someone who isn’t going to leave in a year if he’s successful. That means the offensive equivalent of Fangio: a proven coordinator who isn’t jonesing anymore for a head coaching position.
Frank reich
I still don’t believe there is actually a real person named Jim Bob Cooter.
My 2nd favorite sports name besides baseball agent Bean Stringfellow
I thought he was on the Dukes of Hazard.
Really unsure who I want as the new OC of the realistic names. I don’t think Mike McDaniel is realistic. I don’t think Stefanski is realistic. Daboll I think is a possibility but he makes me nervous if he was more a product of Josh Allen.
Cooter would be a good hire.