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Commanders Conduct DC Interview With Dennard Wilson

By | at January 10, 2026 9:17 pm

The Commanders have filled one of their coordinator positions, promoting David Blough to serve as Kliff Kingsbury‘s successor. Attention will increasingly turn to the defensive coordinator gig.

Washington moved on from Joe Whitt earlier this week in a move which came as little surprise. A DC change was foreshadowed when head coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling duties midway through the season. The team has already interviewed Joe Cullen as a potential Whitt replacement, and another candidate has emerged.

The Commanders completed an interview today with Dennard Wilson, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Wilson is currently in place with the Titans as their defensive coordinator. Tennessee’s head coaching position is currently vacant, however, so there is a strong chance of substantial staff changes once a hire on that front winds up being made.

Wilson’s coaching career started at Maryland. After two years spent there as a graduate assistant, he entered the NFL as a scout. Over time, Wilson worked his way up the coaching ranks during stints with the Rams, Jets, Eagles and Ravens. The 43-year-old was an internal candidate for Philadelphia’s D-coordinator gig after the 2022 season, but after not receiving the role he spent one season in Baltimore. That was followed by his first coordinator opportunity coming about in Tennessee.

The Titans struggled in terms of scoring defense in 2024, but the team did rank second in yards allowed. Wilson and Co. were not able to duplicate that success this season, though. Tennessee finished 21st in total defense and 28th in points allowed. Those figures could hinder Wilson’s stock to a degree, and it was recently learned he will not receive an interview for the Titans’ full-time head coaching position.

In situations such as this one, departures are commonplace. A change of scenery could be coming soon for Wilson as a result, and it will be interesting to see if he emerges as a finalist with the Commanders in their search.

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Mike McCoy To Interview For Titans’ HC Job; Team Not Planning Dennard Wilson Meeting

By | at January 6, 2026 1:35 pm

As we’ve attempted to cover in this space for a while, interim coaches face a steep battle toward actually landing the full-time job. Antonio Pierce is the only interim leader over the past nine offseasons to be elevated to full-time status, and the Raiders fired him a year later.

The Titans were the first team to fire a coach this season, beating the Giants to the punch. They turned to Mike McCoy as their interim boss. The two-time NFL HC will have a chance to interview for the full-time position, according to veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky.

McCoy, 53, went 2-9 as the interim coach this season. This came after his four-year Chargers HC run produced a 27-37 mark and one playoff berth. The Titans finished 30th in scoring offense and 31st in yardage. Although Cam Ward showed flashes down the stretch, the No. 1 overall pick finished his rookie season with an NFL-low QBR number.

Tennessee hired McCoy last year, bringing him aboard as a senior offensive assistant under Brian Callahan. Interim leaders were hired at a greater rate in previous NFL periods; the Titans are an example of a team that has shown great interest in such continuity. The team elevated Mike Mularkey from interim leader to full-time HC in 2015. As the Oilers, the franchise removed Jeff Fisher‘s interim tag in 1995. Jerry Glanville started as an Oilers interim HC before being elevated to full-time status in 1986. That said, McCoy is highly unlikely to land this job.

McCoy, however, will at least have the opportunity to interview. DC Dennard Wilson is believed to have pushed for an interview, Kuharsky adds, but the team will not provide that chance. ST coordinator John Fassel is pushing for an interview as well, per Kuharsky. Callahan hired Wilson in 2024, after he had lost out on the Eagles’ DC job, and brought in Fassel in 2025. The Titans ranked 28th in points allowed this season, finishing 21st in total defense. Wilson did have the NFL’s No. 2 total defense in 2024, but his unit ranked 30th in scoring.

Several established candidates are on Tennessee’s docket, however. Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Rams DC Chris Shula, 49ers DC Robert Saleh and Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile are among others who are expected to interview, per Kuharsky. Here is how their Mike Borgonzi-led search process looks as of Tuesday afternoon:

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Brian Daboll May Step Out Of Play-Calling Role; John Mara Criticizes Giants’ Defense

By | at January 7, 2025 1:13 pm

After OC Mike Kafka primarily called Giants plays from 2022-23, Brian Daboll took the reins this past season. Despite being at the controls as Josh Allen morphed from raw talent into superstar with the Bills, Daboll could not do much with the 2024 Giants’ offense. As a result, he nearly lost his job.

John Mara, however, retained both Daboll and GM Joe Schoen but issued directives that an improvement must take place immediately. Daboll is now entertaining a step back into a CEO coaching role, though the fourth-year Giants HC did not confirm if the idea of another shift was his or Mara’s.

[RELATED: Mike Kafka Drawing HC Interest]

Mara said Monday he talked to Daboll about moving off play-calling, but Daboll subsequently insisted (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) he broached the subject. When pressed as to who initiated that conversation, Daboll admitted it was perhaps Mara who did. While this seems an important detail, Daboll will be coaching for his job early in the 2025 season — regardless of which party brought this up.

Daboll could not coax quality play from Daniel Jones, despite he and Kafka doing so in 2022. Jones struggled during an injury-plagued 2023 and did not bounce back this season, leading to an in-season cut and a move to the Vikings’ practice squad. The Giants then went around Drew Lock to give Tommy DeVito the first crack at replacing Jones. Lock then took the wheel to close the season, offering inconsistent play down the stretch. The Giants finished 31st in scoring, but in Daboll’s (slight) defense, they were 30th in 2023. This came after a Saquon Barkley-dependent offense placed 15th in 2022, leading to a divisional-round appearance.

Changes on offense may not be all that comes out of a disastrous 3-14 season. Mara criticized Shane Bowen‘s defense when assessing the season, potentially calling the former Titans DC’s job status into question. The Giants did climb from 26th to 21st in total defense, despite not having Dexter Lawrence for a third of the season and missing Kayvon Thibodeaux for a sizable chunk in the middle. New York’s secondary struggled, however.

“Quite frankly, I didn’t think our defense played very well this year at all,” Mara said, via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. “I know that when you have an offense that performs like that, you’re putting more pressure on your defense. But we need to make improvements there. I’m tired of watching teams go up and down the field on us. So, I think that has to be addressed.”

Despite Hard Knocks‘ offseason effort showing Bowen being given a key voice in defensive personnel, Dunleavy reminds he was not the Giants’ first choice for the job. Bobby Babich and Dennard Wilson were the team’s initial preferences, Dunleavy adds.

The Bills promoted Babich — a former Daboll Buffalo coworker — to DC, while Wilson instead took the Titans’ DC gig. The Giants were one of three other teams to request a DC meeting with Babich, while Wilson — a former Eagles DBs coach — was one of three Ravens assistants to become a DC elsewhere in 2024. He met about the Giants’ job in mid-January; Big Blue did not hire Bowen until Feb. 5.

Monitoring Bowen’s status will be important for Giants fans over the next few days, as it would be difficult to expect the team to carry on as is after a 3-14 season. Nevertheless, Daboll will soon be the team’s longest-tenured HC since Tom Coughlin.

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2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

By | at February 9, 2024 1:10 pm

After a crowded carousel previously stopped, the 49ers opened their defensive coordinator position. Here is how the NFC champions’ search looks:

Updated 3-2-24 (10:00am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dave Ragone)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Ken Dorsey)

  • Joe Brady, interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Bills): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Thomas Brown)

  • Marcus Brady, senior offensive assistant (Eagles): Interview requested
  • Brad Idzik, wide receivers coach (Buccaneers): Hired

Chicago Bears (Out: Luke Getsy)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Brian Callahan)

  • Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
  • Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Promoted

Cleveland Browns (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Mick Lombardi)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Kellen Moore)

New England Patriots (Out: Bill O’Brien)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Pete Carmichael)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Brian Johnson)

  • Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Interviewed 1/23
  • Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Matt Canada)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Shane Waldron)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Dave Canales)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Tim Kelly)

  • Nick Holz, passing game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Eric Studesville, associate head coach/running backs coach (Dolphins): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Chip Kelly, former head coach (Eagles/49ers): On team’s radar
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Hired

Defensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Mike Macdonald)

  • Zach Orr, inside linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted

Buffalo Bills

  • Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Promoted
  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Sean Desai, former defensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview

Chicago Bears (Out: Alan Williams)

  • Joe Barry, former defensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/27
  • Chris Harris, secondary coach (Titans): To interview
  • Eric Washington, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Bills): Hired
  • Terrell Williams, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Titans): To interview

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Dan Quinn)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Joe Barry)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Mike Caldwell)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Derrick Ansley)

  • Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Hired

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Raheem Morris)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Vic Fangio)

New England Patriots

  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Promoted
  • Michael Hodges, linebackers coach (Saints): To interview
  • Tem Lukabu, outside linebackers coach (Panthers): To interview
  • Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed

New York Giants (Out: Don Martindale)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Sean Desai)

  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Vic Fangio, former defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Hired
  • Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/22

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Steve Wilks)

  • Gerald Alexander, safeties coach (Raiders): Interviewed 3/1
  • Daniel Bullocks, defensive backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/28
  • David Merritt, defensive backs coach (Chiefs): To interview
  • Nick Sorensen, defensive passing game specialist (49ers): Promoted
  • Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Clint Hurtt)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Shane Bowen)

  • Brandon Lynch, cornerbacks coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/30
  • Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired

Washington Commanders (Out: Jack Del Rio)

  • Joe Cullen, defensive line coach (Chiefs): Considered a candidate
  • Joe Whitt, defensive backs coach (Cowboys): Hired
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Titans Hire Ravens’ Dennard Wilson As DC

By | at February 2, 2024 9:30 am

FEBRUARY 2: The deal has now been finalized, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Wilson joins Nick Holz in becoming a first-time NFL coordinator as part of rookie head coach Brian Callahan‘s initial staff.

JANUARY 31: With former defensive coordinator Shane Bowen not returning under the staff of new Titans head coach Brian Callahan, a new hire became necessary. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, it will be Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson who will take over defensive play-calling duties in Tennessee in 2024.

Baltimore’s defensive staff has been popular in the interview circuit after the team led the league in points allowed, turnovers forced, and sacks. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was recently hired as Pete Carroll‘s replacement in Seattle, defensive line coach Anthony Weaver interviewed twice for the Falcons’ and Commanders’ head coaching positions, linebackers coach Zach Orr has interviewed for the Packers’ defensive coordinator job, and pass-game coordinator Chris Hewitt interviewed in Jacksonville for another defensive coordinator job.

Wilson has been an especially popular name, as well. Tennessee was one of five teams vying for Wilson’s services this offseason. The 41-year-old Maryland native had been scheduled interview a second time with the Giants, was requested to interview with the Packers and Rams, and was expected to be in consideration to replace Macdonald in Baltimore.

Wilson has widely been regarded as one of the league’s better defensive backs coaches, spending time with the Jets and Eagles before his role in Baltimore. In both previous locations, he even eventually added the role of passing game coordinator to his title. During his time with the Eagles, Wilson’s unit helped lead the league’s top pass defense and second-overall defense in total yards allowed. First-team All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry, Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, and converted safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson all flourished in Wilson’s room, with Gardner-Johnson even leading the league in interceptions following the position change from slot cornerback.

For a time, it was thought that Wilson was the clear choice to take over at defensive coordinator for the Eagles whenever Jonathan Gannon moved on to a head coaching job. Unfortunately, the team ended up hiring Sean Desai instead, a decision that reflects poorly a year later. After getting passed up for the gig, Wilson found his way to Baltimore where he has helped yet another defensive unit reach elite status. This year Wilson guided the blossoming of second-year safety Kyle Hamilton, watched converted cornerback Brandon Stephens take over as a full-time starter after switching from safety, and coached backup safety Geno Stone as he went toe-to-toe with Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland for the interception title.

Now, Wilson will finally get that opportunity as a defensive coordinator that he got passed up for in Philadelphia. With Callahan set to call plays for the offense in Nashville, the Titans now have both play-callers set. All that remains is for the two coaches to fill out the rest of their staff, including a new offensive coordinator to work under Callahan, as well.

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Packers Request DC Interviews With Dennard Wilson, Zach Orr

By | at January 30, 2024 9:20 am

9:20am: Wilson is not the only Ravens staffer on the Packers’ radar. Green Bay has also requested a DC interview with linebackers coach Zach Orr, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Orr’s playing career was cut short due to a congenital spine condition, but he has transitioned to coaching at the NFL level. The 31-year-old worked with the Ravens from 2017-20 before taking a position with the Jaguars. He then returned to Baltimore in 2022 in his current role, which has made him a key figure on DC Mike Macdonald‘s staff.

8:56am: Dennard Wilson remains a highly sought-after defensive coordinator candidate. The Ravens defensive backs coach has received a DC interview request from the Packers, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Green Bay moved on from Joe Barry after the team’s elimination, a move which had been predicted by many before the 2023 campaign. The Packers have cast a wide net in their search for his replacement, although to date only two interviews have taken place with one more lined up. Wilson adds to the list of Green Bay’s targets, but the team will likely have competition for his services if an interview produces an offer.

Wilson, as Rapoport notes, has a Titans interview scheduled for today. He is also set to speak with the Rams, and those teams are joined by the Giants in having shown interest. New York has lined up a second interview with Wilson, whose stock rose during the 2023 campaign. After being passed up for the Eagles’ DC position last offseason, Wilson departed for Baltimore to take on the same role.

The 41-year-old helped oversee a Ravens secondary which was among the league’s best this year. Baltimore finished sixth in terms of passing yards allowed per game, and the team racked up 18 interceptions. An NFL staffer since 2012, Wilson has extensive experience as a secondary coach and passing game coordinator. He has never held a defensive coordinator title, however.

Green Bay finished 10th in scoring defense in 2023, but overall the team underperformed relative to expectations during much of Barry’s tenure at the helm. Improvement against the run in particular will be a target moving forward, and the team’s new defensive staff will be a key storyline entering the 2024 season as the Packers aim to build off their offensive success.

Here is an updated look at the Packers’ DC search:

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Rams, Titans To Meet With Ravens’ Dennard Wilson; Second Giants DC Interview Scheduled

By | at January 27, 2024 6:43 pm

One of several Ravens staffers who has generated interest around the league, Dennard Wilson remains a popular defensive coordinator candidate. Baltimore’s defensive backs coach is set to interview with the Rams and Titans for the first time, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. In addition, Wilson will meet for the second time with the Giants.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

Wilson was New York’s first known interview for the team’s DC vacancy, and that initial summit appears to have gone well. No other second interviews have been lined up for now as the Giants look for a Don Martindale replacement. Wilson had received an interview request from the Titans, but today’s update marks the first interest shown by the Rams.

Martindale initially appeared to be on track to remain with the Giants through 2024 despite reports of a rift between he and head coach Brian Daboll. In the end, though, the former parted ways with the team, creating a significant vacancy on Daboll’s staff. The Titans still have DC Shane Bowen on staff as things currently stand, but he will likely be headed elsewhere once new head coach Brian Callahan brings in staffers of his choosing. The Rams, meanwhile, recently saw Raheem Morris return to the Falcons to take on their HC gig, adding them to the list of teams in the market for a new coordinator.

Wilson has not served as a DC at the NFL level before, but he was a highly-regarded DBs coach during his time with the Eagles. He was a logical internal candidate to replace Jonathan Gannon last offseason, but Philadelphia elected to go outside the organization to fill the role. As a result, Wilson departed for Baltimore in a lateral move. He helped the Ravens post a number of strong statistical showings in 2023; the team ranked sixth against the pass during the regular season allowing 192 yards per game, and finished third in interceptions with 18.

Wilson is the only candidate to be connected to Tennessee’s vacancy for now, and he is the second to have a Los Angeles interview lined up. Having become a finalist with the Giants, though, the Titans and Rams will have competition for his services if they are impressed following their respective first meetings with him.

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Titans Request Interview With Ravens’ Dennard Wilson For DC Job

By | at January 25, 2024 6:41 pm

Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson continues to receive interest in defensive coordinator positions around the NFL. Once rumored to be the heir apparent for the job in Philadelphia and having already interviewed for a coordinator position in New York this month, Wilson will add the Titans to his list of teams with interest as, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Tennessee is the latest team to request an interview with Wilson for a defensive coordinator job.

A Maryland native, Wilson had a short stint as a player in nearby Washington, D.C., after going undrafted as a defensive back out of Maryland. It didn’t take long for him to turn to the non-playing side of football, taking a job as a pro scout for the Bears in 2008. Wilson found his way to coaching in 2012 when he joined the Rams as a defensive quality control coach, only taking three years to get promoted to defensive backs coach.

Since then, Wilson has widely been regarded as one of the league’s better defensive backs coaches, spending time with the Jets and Eagles before his role in Baltimore. In both previous locations, he even eventually added the role of passing game coordinator to his title. During his time with the Eagles, Wilson’s unit helped lead the league’s top pass defense and second-overall defense in total yards allowed. First-team All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry, Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, and converted safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson all flourished in Wilson’s room, with Gardner-Johnson even leading the league in interceptions following the position change from slot cornerback.

For a time, it was thought that Wilson was the clear choice to take over at defensive coordinator for the Eagles whenever Jonathan Gannon moved on to a head coaching job. Unfortunately, the team ended up hiring Sean Desai instead, a decision that reflects poorly a year later. After getting passed up for the gig, Wilson found his way to Baltimore where he has helped yet another defensive unit reach elite status. This year Wilson has guided the blossoming of second-year safety Kyle Hamilton, watched converted cornerback Brandon Stephens take over as a full-time starter after switching from safety, and coached backup safety Geno Stone as he went toe-to-toe with Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland for the interception title.

Now, Wilson will get a chance to interview for the Titans’ job. He will, in fact, be the first to interview for the Titans’ job, just as he was the first to interview with the Giants. This wasn’t technically a job we knew to be open. Technically, Shane Bowen still resides as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, but with head coach Mike Vrabel no longer employed, Bowen and the rest of his staff have been actively interviewing for open positions elsewhere.

Bowen may still get an opportunity to keep his job under new head coach Brian Callahan, but the fact that Wilson has been invited to interview suggests that the position is open. If Bowen is still a candidate, his first competition will be with the position coach coaching in the AFC Championship game this weekend.

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Giants Conduct DC Interview With Ravens’ Dennard Wilson; Interview Request For Marquice Williams Blocked By Falcons

By | at January 12, 2024 1:46 pm

The Giants added ex-defensive coordinator Don Martindale after his Ravens stint came to an end, and the team is again looking Baltimore’s way in their efforts to find his replacement. New York conducted a DC interview with Ravens secondary coach Dennard Wilson, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Martindale’s future on Brian Daboll‘s staff was thought to be in flux after a November report pointed to tension between the two. The latter initially said he expected the former to remain in place for the 2024 campaign, after both sides attempted to downplay the issue. However, Daboll fired two position coaches who followed Martindale from the Ravens to the Giants, and Martindale is now out of the picture as a result.

Wilson is the first known candidate to interview for New York’s DC position. The 41-year-old joined the Ravens’ staff this past offseason after a stint with the Eagles. He was at one point considered the favorite to be promoted to defensive coordinator in Philadelphia following Jonathan Gannon‘s departure, but the Eagles ultimately hired Sean Desai instead. Wilson therefore moved on, taking the Baltimore gig after also being connected to the Browns’ DC opening.

Wilson impressed during his previous time with the Jets, and he is seen as a strong coordinator candidate. It thus comes as little surprise that the Giants have shown interest as they look for a rebound on defense from the team’s performance in 2023. The Ravens ranked sixth against the pass this season (allowing 192 yards per game through the air) and racked up 18 interceptions, the third-highest mark in the league.

The Giants have also, however, hit another roadblock in their search for a special teams coordinator. New York attempted to speak with Chargers ST coordinator Ryan Ficken, but Los Angeles blocked the request. The same has now happened with respect to the Falcons. Atlanta has denied New York’s bid to interview Marquice Williams, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Having yet to fill the vacancy filled by Arthur Smith‘s firing, the Falcons are not allowing their assistants to interview with outside teams.

While the Giants will therefore need to continue searching for candidates to replace Thomas McGaughey, they have at least had a meeting with Wilson. The latter could be a name to watch on the coordinator circuit once again in 2024 given his rising stock and the Ravens’ backend performance on his watch this season.

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Latest On Eagles’ Defensive Changes

By | at December 21, 2023 10:00 pm

In 2021, Nick Sirianni made a significant in-season change by handing play-calling reins to then-OC Shane Steichen. Shifting to a run-heavy approach, the Eagles began an ascent that produced a Super Bowl LVII berth a year later. Sirianni is attempting to make a similar save this season.

Hired as a senior defensive assistant this offseason, Matt Patricia is now calling the shots on defense. Sirianni did not strip Sean Desai of his defensive coordinator title, but Jonathan Gannon‘s successor has been effectively demoted. The third-year HC confirmed Patricia now has the final say on defense.

“I made the decision, what I thought I needed to do in the best interest of the football team,” Sirianni said, via AllPhly.com’s Zach Berman. “We made some adjustments there. I didn’t feel like we were playing and coaching well enough on defense, so I made an adjustment. It was my decision and that’s what I did.

“All the final decisions are made by Matt right now. As disappointed as Sean was, I think he handled himself like a true pro. Sean is still helpful to this football team because he has a bright mind and he can help and as I listened in on defense today they were communicating back and forth very similar to the way they communicated with the roles reversed.”

Patricia, 49, will not implement a new defensive system, Sirianni said, with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane indicating the team views this as too late of a juncture for major schematic changes. But Patricia will be calling plays in the system Desai installed this offseason. The Eagles proceeded similarly in 2012, per McLane, when they elevated Todd Bowles in place of DC Juan Castillo. The team converted Castillo from an offensive line coach to DC after firing Sean McDermott, but Andy Reid made that change in October 2012. With this Desai-for-Patricia switch coming much later in the season, it is understandable the Eagles are not eyeing wholesale changes.

Excessive finger-pointing, particularly among certain defensive players, took place following the Eagles’ one-sided losses to the 49ers and Cowboys, ESPN.com’s Tim McManus adds. Considering where the Eagles were last year at this time, frustration was inevitable. Following Patricia’s first game in charge — a 20-17 last-second loss to the Seahawks — the Eagles rank 26th in scoring defense, 22nd overall and 23rd in DVOA. Gannon’s final season, as ignominiously as it ended, produced the league’s second-best total defense and No. 8 scoring defense.

The Eagles were prepared to hire Vic Fangio as DC, after he served as a consultant last season. But with Gannon’s Cardinals hire producing some controversy and a tampering sanction, Fangio ended up in Miami for high-end coordinator money. Desai worked under Fangio in Chicago and installed a similar scheme, though the Eagles still use a 4-3 look. Player support for ex-secondary coach Dennard Wilson existed, per McLane. Upon being passed over for Desai, the two-year Eagles assistant trekked to Baltimore to become the Ravens’ DBs coach. Going into the Seattle matchup, the Eagles ranked last in red zone defense and 30th on third downs; McLane adds Desai’s game plans had strayed from some of Fangio’s core concepts.

For Patricia, this represents a return to a prominent defensive role. He has not held such responsibilities since his 2020 Lions firing. This will become a prime opportunity for the longtime Bill Belichick lieutenant to showcase his chops away from New England, a challenge that has proven too much for many ex-Belichick aides. For Desai, 40, this Philly stay now has the look of a one-and-done. The 2021 Chicago DC spent last season as an assistant under Pete Carroll and DC Clint Hurtt in Seattle. While Desai generated interest from multiple teams this offseason, he is staring at two one-year DC tenures this decade.

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