Nick Sirianni‘s second in-house offensive coordinator promotion brought another Eagles regression. As a result, the Eagles HC fired Kevin Patullo two years after canning Brian Johnson. Sirianni’s search to replace Patullo was more difficult than his post-Johnson process.
The Eagles fired Patullo on Jan. 13 but took 18 days to name Sean Mannion his replacement. A host of higher-profile candidates were in the mix for the job, but the Eagles ended up with a former backup quarterback who has been in coaching for two years. This was the OC carousel of the former backup, as both David Blough (Commanders) and Davis Webb (Broncos) will be calling plays as first-year OCs. But the Washington and Denver coordinator searches went far more smoothly than Philadelphia’s.
Philly had Brian Daboll squarely on its radar, but the former Giants HC preferred the Tennessee job and working with Cam Ward. Mike McDaniel also interviewed for the gig, amid a busy offseason for the four-year Dolphins HC, but chose the Chargers and Justin Herbert.
Former Falcons OC Zac Robinson interviewed for the job but accepted a Buccaneers OC offer a week before the Mannion hire. Declan Doyle and LSU OC Charlie Weis Jr. withdrew from this search. Bobby Slowik took a Miami promotion, while Webb accepted a Denver OC bump after receiving an interview request late in the running.
This certainly was a difficult job to fill. Several candidates were hesitant about this gig, per Sportsboom.com’s Jason La Canfora. Sirianni firing two coordinators after one season helps explain some of the difficulties, but La Canfora adds Jalen Hurts‘ inconsistency was a “serious” concern for some of the more experienced candidates involved in Philly’s search. Daboll’s decision to work with Ward headlined that issue.
Hurts’ career has been a rollercoaster ride. He went from unpolished passer to 2022 MVP frontrunner (before a late-season injury). After a 2023 extension started the $50MM-per-year QB boom, Hurts struggled and saw reports scrutinize his relationship with Sirianni. Kellen Moore righted the ship but did so after minimizing the QB’s role, building the offense around Saquon Barkley. Hurts still played well in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX romp before regressing once again. QBR placed Hurts 20th last year, and Patullo’s offense regressed significantly from where Moore’s was. Hurts’ approach, especially against zone coverage, drew internal criticism last season.
Despite finishing with a 25:6 TD-INT ratio, Hurts piloted the NFL’s 19th-ranked scoring offense (down from seventh in 2024). Lane Johnson‘s season-ending injury in Week 11 affected Philly’s attack, but one GM told La Canfora the Eagles realized quickly Patullo might be overmatched at coordinator.
The longtime assistant, who has since joined the Dolphins as pass-game coordinator, saw Sirianni become more involved with the offense compared to his role during Moore’s play-calling year. Calls for Patullo’s job rang out, and an egging incident occurred at the coordinator’s home. A.J. Brown gripes ensued, but those were not exclusive to Patullo’s year in charge.
Sirianni, who faced firing rumors after the 2023 season despite the Eagles reaching Super Bowl LVII, is planning to remain involved in the offense to help the 33-year-old Mannion as he takes a big responsibility leap. Mannion, however, will be the play-caller — just as each Eagles OC has been since midway through the 2021 season. Another GM indicated (via La Canfora) Sirianni’s job will be at risk, despite his 2025 extension, if the Eagles’ offense does not improve. The Eagles firing Doug Pederson three years after a Super Bowl win, with two playoff berths following that showing, occurred on GM Howie Roseman‘s watch.
This is nothing the five-time playoff-qualifying HC has not faced before, but there will be plenty of pressure on him once again. Sirianni made two more staff changes recently. The Eagles are hiring Montgomery VanGorder as assistant QBs coach and Beyah Rasool as a defensive assistant, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz notes. VanGorder was an Eagles quality control assistant last year and previously served as QBs coach at Georgia. Previously a quality control staffer at Florida coaching cornerbacks, Rasool was on the Raiders’ staff last year.
lol… duh?
So Sirianni and other advisors toss darts at a board and can’t reach a consensus. Then someone suggests the blame for their indecisiveness should be attributed to Jalen Hurts. This would be comical if it wasn’t becoming a regular occurrence around the league.
I don’t like they eagles. I have rooted against them my entire life.
With that, I don’t understand the hate jalen hurts gets. The guy is a winner and plays exceptionally well within his system. Guys been to two super bowls,that’s not a mistake.
It’s not a mistake, it’s good roster construction. If you don’t see the issues with Hurts’ game, that’s a you problem.
Great roster construction, roseman is the best GM in football.
“Plays well within his system” is very different from ” I don’t see issues in his game”.
You’re a you problem.
2 out of the last 4 OC’s were so successful with Hurts as their QB that they became Head Coaches elsewhere. I’m not seeing why coaching Hurts would scare people away.
Much worse offensive line now. Helped hide a lot of his issues.
Dude was in 2 Superbowls and could have been MVP in the first. What QB doesn’t have issues? Allen? Prescott? Hebert? Jackson? Burrow? Smh
Bobby Hebert had issues…..
Hurts might be gone before Sirianni. He has zero guaranteed money after this season. Will be easy to trade or cut
I don’t understand why this was written except as a hatchet job / for the comments? Nothing new and definitely provocative language.
Yep. Totally agree. Poor journalism at its best.
Hurry up hurts has been surrounded by talented players since day 1 in Philly. Don’t be fooled by the occasional break out game.
Last year the offensive line was banged up all year and the play calling was boring and predictable. In 2023 the play calling was suspect. With good OC’s Hurts went to two Super Bowls in 3 years . Time will tell what Mannion ends up being. but Stoutland will be missed.
If the QB who already had limitations wins a Super Bowl, and then turns around afterward and starts deciding to dictate what he will and won’t do in an offense, that’s gonna be a deterrent. No coach with a resume will put up with any QB who is allowed to take a red pen and start crossing out pages of his playbook.