From The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/yc38a457

Members of the Eagles have yet to respond to a bombshell report from ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler detailing last season’s dysfunction — specifically the team’s frustration with quarterback Jalen Hurts — that dropped Wednesday as the annual league meetings were breaking up in Phoenix.

The exposé mirrored midseason reports by The Athletic and NFL broadcaster Derrick Gunn questioning Hurts’ coachability and willingness to follow the offense as designed, a pattern that bothered several teammates and was the source of receiver A.J. Brown’s exasperation.

General manager Howie Roseman, coach Nick Sirianni and owner Jeffrey Lurie had already spoken with the media in Arizona before ESPN released its article, but Lurie praised Hurts on Tuesday.

“There’s no bigger fan of Jalen than me,” Lurie said. “Clutch gene, absolutely. ... Exceptional and so dedicated. I mean, I think you probably know I spend a lot of time with Jalen, as I do with most quarterbacks. Incredibly dedicated to the game, to winning and being a huge winner. I love everything about him.”

Hurts was the Super Bowl MVP in 2024 and outplayed Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes two years earlier in a Super Bowl loss. His accomplishments are undeniable. But the team wants to see him evolve as a player. That includes operating from under center, where play action has been more effective, and incorporating more sophisticated concepts such as motion, shifts and pinpoint timing routes that reflect today’s incarnation of the West Coast offense.

The Eagles ran play-action passes just 15% of the time last year, which ranked 22nd in the league, despite having a threat like Saquon Barkley in the backfield. Hurts also reportedly changed many plays to simpler, predictable concepts — such as on a failed fourth down late in the wild-card loss to San Francisco — and often held the ball too long and avoided throws over the middle.

The ESPN report comes as the Eagles weigh a contract extension for the quarterback and a possible trade of Brown this offseason.

Part of the problem is that Hurts has had a different offensive coordinator every year. Even when he does develop rapport with a play-caller, that coach has been gone the following season, making continuity impossible. So Hurts himself has become frustrated, distrustful and resistant to new ideas.

But the Eagles don’t seem to see the contradiction in having a revolving door of OCs.

“As much as you’d like to have continuity and would like to have guys here for a long period of time, we want to win. We have an urgency to win right now. If that comes with the ramifications that we lose good people because they’ve earned head coaching jobs, we’ll live with that,” Roseman said at the end-of-season news conference in January.

Sirianni said Monday he has maintained offseason communication with Hurts but emphasized balance.

“You want guys to get away from football a little bit,” he said. “Recharge.”

The latest play-caller is Sean Mannion, a former quarterback who was Jordan Love’s QB coach in Green Bay. Hurts has reportedly expressed early buy-in behind the scenes.

Latest on a new stadium

Lurie confirmed the organization has begun exploring options for the franchise’s next stadium — a process that could eventually lead to a major overhaul of Lincoln Financial Field or an entirely new structure.

Nothing is imminent. But the conversation has started.

“We’re in the exploratory stage,” Lurie said. “We want to be very thoughtful about it.”

Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003 and remains under lease through 2032. Lurie praised the stadium and the South Philadelphia Sports Complex but acknowledged that the team must begin evaluating future options, as many NFL franchises are doing.

“It’s a wonderful stadium,” Lurie said. “But we have to think about the long-term future and what makes the most sense for the fans and for the city.”

The Eagles have been studying newer venues across the league and abroad, including modern multipurpose stadiums that can host events beyond football.

A domed facility is among the concepts under discussion. Such a move could help Philadelphia pursue mega-events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four.

Lurie said he hasn’t ruled out leaving South Philly.

“We’re looking at everything,” he said. “What’s the best experience for fans? What’s the best long-term home for the Eagles?”

The team has also surveyed season-ticket holders about stadium preferences as part of its research process.

“This is something you do carefully,” he said. “We’re at the very beginning.”

Depth move at linebacker

The Eagles added another piece to their offseason roster this week by signing linebacker Chandler Martin to a two-year deal.

Martin, 23, spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted out of Memphis. He appeared in three games, playing 34 special-teams snaps and recording five tackles.

His rookie season ended early when he tore his ACL in Week 13.

The Eagles view Martin as a developmental linebacker who could compete for depth and special-teams work once healthy. The two-year deal suggests the club is willing to give him time to recover and prove himself.

Philadelphia’s linebacker room is led by Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell, with young reserves such as Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon and Chance Campbell also in the mix.

Notes

● Lurie reiterated that he remains deeply involved in the franchise despite giving his son Julian an expanded role in recent years.

“Maybe I still have a lot of gray hair,” Lurie said. “But I’m probably more involved than ever.”

● The owner said the team would be open to appearing in another international game — but only as the visiting team.

“We are not going to give up a home game,” Lurie said. “We just did that in Brazil.”

Philadelphia opened the 2024 season in São Paulo, sacrificing a home date as part of the NFL’s international expansion.

● Sirianni confirmed the Eagles are planning joint training-camp practices this summer with the New England Patriots. They will take place in Foxborough, Mass. Last August, the Eagles hosted practices with the Cleveland Browns ahead of their preseason matchup at the Linc.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/c6ew2xv7

PHILADELPHIA — After Tanner Banks nearly frittered away starter Andrew Painter’s dazzling major-league debut in the sixth and seventh innings, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran entered in the final two frames to lock down the rookie’s inaugural win in the bigs.

With a 3-0 lead, Banks surrendered an inherited run and later a run of his own before the Phillies went on to a 3-2 victory over Washington Tuesday night.

The unflappable Painter allowed just four hits while striking out eight over 5 1/3, leaving the mound to his third and loudest standing ovation of the night when manager Rob Thomson made a call to the pen.

“It was awesome,” said Painter, a lean, 6-foot-7 right-hander with a boy-next-door face. “Crowd showed up tonight. I just kind of soaked all of it in. I don’t think I could have drawn it up much better.”

As spectacular as 22-year-old Painter’s performance was, the effective combo of Keller and Duran was another positive that shouldn’t be overlooked.

“We didn’t have (Jose) Alvarado tonight because of the pitch count last night, but those guys are power guys, they throw strikes,” Thomson said. “Keller had the one walk and he was a little upset about it, but those guys throw strikes and they get both sides out. It’s a good combination.”

Ideally, the Phillies would like Alvarado to handle the seventh inning, Keller the eighth and Duran to close out the ninth. (Keller and Alvarado could occasionally swap.)

No more bullpen by committee. The plan goes back to the days of more defined bullpen roles, with setup men and a dominant closer who could shorten a game from nine innings to six if their team had the lead.

That formula helped the Phillies win the World Series in 2008, when they had J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge. It helped propel the late-1990s Yankees with Mike Stanton, Jeff Nelson and Mariano Rivera. The list of examples goes on.

Now, it allows a guy like Orion Kerkering (once he’s healthy) to be a middle-inning fireman. That was Banks’ role Tuesday.

Since the explosion of analytics, the classic seventh-eighth-ninth inning ladder has largely taken a back seat to managers playing matchups and using their would-be closers earlier in games. However, the pendulum may be swinging back.

“When you have a true closer like Duran, that’s the way you should set it up,” Thomson told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb in spring training. “And especially when we have the type of arms that we have. But if you give a guy a fifth- or sixth-inning role, and the seventh- and eighth-inning guys aren’t available, well they’re going to have to pitch in the seventh inning.”

Seems reasonable.

Before even getting to Banks, Thomson handled Painter just right in his debut by not hanging with him too long. He could have sat him down after 77 pitches over five stellar frames to be sure to keep his confidence intact. Instead, he did one better. He sent him back out for the sixth, let him get an out, and then pulled him when C.J. Abrams singled — allowing Painter to bask in the appreciation of an electric crowd at Citizens Bank Park as he departed.

As Painter handed the ball over, Thomson patted him on the chest and asked him if he had enjoyed his outing.

“He shook his head no,” Thomson said. “And then he figured out what I said and shook his head yes.”

Thomson reminded him to tip his cap to the fans when he walked off.

“He told me to do that,” Painter said. “I almost forgot, but I did it.”

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/y3pxffne

The Eagles are nibbling around the edges.

After he was unable to re-sign edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who accepted a four-year, $120 million offer from the Carolina Panthers, general manager Howie Roseman has taken a couple half-measures to address the hole in the roster, hoping one of the moves pops.

The first was two weeks ago with Arnold Ebiketie, a former Temple and Penn State standout whom the Atlanta Falcons allowed to walk. The latest is Joe Tryon-Shoynka, 26, a former first-round pick by Tampa Bay. The Birds signed him to a one-year contract Sunday.

“At some point, you got to have parameters of what you would do, what you wouldn’t do,” Roseman said Sunday in Phoenix at the annual league meetings, referencing Phillips’ lucrative deal.

The team still has multiple avenues to address the position, but the moves so far have been modest: one-year, developmental players and the possibility of help arriving through the draft.

“We’re always looking at ways to add to the pass rush,” Roseman said. “That’s a premium position in this league. Sometimes those answers come in free agency, sometimes they come in the draft, sometimes they come through development.”

The 6-foot-5 Tryon-Shoyinka spent last year in Cleveland and Chicago. In five NFL seasons, he has 160 combined tackles and 15 sacks in 82 games (45 starts).

Roseman called the signing a typical offseason flier — a chance to see whether a talented but inconsistent player can rediscover his form.

“You’re always looking for upside,” Roseman said. “You’re always looking for guys that have traits and have shown flashes. Sometimes it clicks when they get into a different environment.”

The current edge group includes former first-round pick Nolan Smith and second-year rusher Jalyx Hunt. Whether Brandon Graham comes back again in a limited role remains to be seen. The front office still expects internal development to be part of the solution.

“We’ve got some young guys that we’re excited about,” coach Nick Sirianni said Monday. “Those guys continue to grow. And that’s the challenge every year — you want to add talent, but you also want to see the guys you drafted take the next step.”

Still, the Eagles know elite edge rushers rarely come cheap. The price tags this offseason have reflected that reality, with top players signing contracts well north of $20 million per year.

Roseman said the team considered several options but ultimately chose patience.

“You have to be disciplined,” he said. “Sometimes you’re aggressive, sometimes you’re patient. But the goal is always the same — build the best roster you can.”

The draft could ultimately provide the most realistic path.

Philadelphia owns multiple early picks and historically has not hesitated to invest heavily in the defensive line. The organization built its Super Bowl championship teams around relentless pass rushes, a philosophy that remains intact.

“Pass rush affects everything,” Sirianni said. “It affects the quarterback, it affects coverage, it affects the entire defense. When you can rush the passer, you make everybody better.”

That belief has shaped the Eagles’ roster construction for years — and likely will again.

“We’ll keep looking,” Roseman said. “We’re not done.”

‘Edgy’ Riq Woolen

Speaking of having an edge, newly acquired cornerback Tariq Woolen plays with one. Despite his talent, he led the Seattle Seahawks in penalties last season and nearly cost them a trip to the Super Bowl with a taunting flag in the NFC Championship Game.

But Sirianni likes him.

“I love his length, his speed, the competitiveness that he plays with,” Sirianni said. “He’s an edgy player. And we want edgy players. We want guys that play with that type of mentality.”

Sirianni emphasized that “edgy” doesn’t mean reckless — it means confident, aggressive and physical.

“There’s a difference between being careless and being edgy,” he said. “Edgy is playing aggressive, playing confident, playing with that swagger that good defenses have.”

The Eagles believe Woolen’s size and ball skills fit that approach. The former Pro Bowl corner recorded six interceptions as a rookie in Seattle and has built a reputation as one of the league’s most athletic defensive backs.

“When you watch him, you see a guy that attacks the football,” Sirianni said. “That’s what we want.”

Safety shuffle after Blankenship departure

The Eagles also continue to reshape their secondary after losing safety Reed Blankenship in free agency earlier this month.

Blankenship signed a three-year deal with the Houston Texans, leaving a hole next to last year’s high draft pick Andrew Mukuba.

Philadelphia’s immediate response was to bring back a familiar face. The team re-signed Marcus Epps to a one-year deal that gives the defense a veteran presence and a player who already understands the system.

Epps has started extensively in Philadelphia before and provides what the front office views as a dependable baseline while younger players develop.

Mukuba, meanwhile, is expected to take on a larger role after flashes during his rookie season before injuries sidelined him.

The Eagles also added veteran safety and special-teams standout J.T. Gray on a one-year deal.

Gray is primarily known for his special-teams work — he was an All-Pro earlier in his career — but he adds depth to a position that remains unsettled.

The group could still see additional competition through the draft, a route Roseman has frequently used to fill safety spots in recent years.

News and notes

● Roseman again deflected trade speculation involving star receiver A.J. Brown, offering a simple refrain reminiscent of Marshawn Lynch’s “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.”

“A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles,” Roseman repeated. Sirianni basically echoed that line verbatim a day later.

● Sirianni seemed to pour cold water on any notion that former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland would still be around the team this year, which right tackle Lane Johnson had floated on a recent podcast.

“Obviously, we moved on with our staff,” Sirianni said. “Really enjoying working with these guys. Obviously, love the guys that are no longer part of our staff. Always will have a relationship with those guys with everything they’ve done for our football team. But right now, we’re just focused on the upcoming year with this staff.”

Stoutland himself spoke about the idea on Nick Foles’ podcast in response to Johnson’s comments, saying he hadn’t heard anything from the Eagles and is enjoying his life right now.

● The Eagles raised some eyebrows when they reworked kicker Jake Elliott’s contract this offseason, ensuring he returns for the 2026 season after a rocky campaign last year (and some issues in 2024).

Roseman said the organization still has confidence in Elliott.

“I have a lot of faith in Jake,” Roseman said. “He’s been a big part of this team for a long time.”

Elliott signed a four-year contract extension in 2024 that runs through the 2028 season.

● The league meetings continue through Wednesday in Phoenix, with owners and executives discussing potential rule changes and other league business. Unlike last year, the tush push is not a topic of discussion.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/s5kfpspn

PHILADELPHIA — Different year, same Aaron Nola.

The Phillies’ talented right-hander, who has been dogged by home runs throughout his career, was burned twice by the long ball in his season debut Saturday, a 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Nola’s line wasn’t terrible: five hits, three earned runs, two walks and seven strikeouts over five frames. (Yes, seven Ks.) But two of the hits left the yard — the second with a runner on base.

Perhaps it’s unfair to get upset with Nola, 32, at this point. He’s 109-89 in his MLB career with a 3.83 ERA, one of the more effective pitchers in recent Phillies history. Homers are baked-in with him. But he’s under contract at $24.7 million per year through 2030, when he’ll turn 37.

Nola always seems to cough up at least one home run. Yet for whatever reason, he often seems to receive the most tepid support from Phillies hitters.

Over the past five seasons, he has ranked far below league average in run support, including just 3½ runs per start in 2025 — a full run below the league norm.

The Phillies didn’t even produce a base hit out of the infield until the ninth inning Saturday.

Still, Nola surrendered 18 homers last season — one of the negative-tier totals in the majors — and that was with missing two months with injuries. The previous two seasons, he gave up a whopping 30 and a league-worst 32.

And guess what he did in his season debut a year ago: He grooved two home runs. Just like Saturday.

Nola didn’t serve up any meatballs while somehow pitching for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. (Major League Baseball is trying to expand its reach, so he qualified for Italy because his great-grandparents emigrated from there nearly a century ago. Join the club.)

In two WBC starts over nine innings, Nola went 1-0, allowing seven hits, one run and one walk while striking out 10. No homers.

It took him about 5 minutes to give up a round-tripper with the Phillies on Saturday.

“Felt pretty good, body and arm felt good,” Nola said afterward. “I think the command in the second inning got out of whack there, but felt like it came back pretty well. I threw a lot of pitches. They worked the counts pretty good. Obviously, those two pitches that those guys hit for homers were tough.

“The strikeouts were good. … But I needed to go longer and deeper into the game.”

Nola’s velocity dropped from 93-94 mph in the WBC to 90-91 in his season opener and final spring-training outing.

Both home runs by the Rangers came with two outs. The first was to Corey Seager in the first inning on a four-seamer up in the zone. The other was in the third to Jake Burger on a knuckle curve — a second-consecutive curve. It followed an 0-2 base hit by Brandon Nimmo on cutter down the middle.

“I thought he was fine,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Two (bad) pitches, really. The fastball to Seager was right at the top of the zone … and he just beat him to the spot. (Nola) probably wants the curveball to Burger back, middle of the dish and hooked it down the line.

“I thought his command for a cold day was really, really good. Spun the ball well. I thought it was a good outing.”

The weather was just as brisk for Rangers lefty Jacob Latz, who started in place of right-hander Jacob deGram, a late scratch because of neck and shoulder soreness. Latz held the Phillies hitless through four innings while striking out three and walking one.

Also, Thomson didn’t mention the pitch to Nimmo.

Nola has defended his decision to pitch in the WBC following an injury-plagued 2025 as a “stress text” for this season. How did it help?

The Phillies’ offense was just as mediocre as Nola on Saturday. Phils hitters showed flashes of life but never fully delivered.

It was just one game — the second of 162 — so no reason to panic. If Wheeler comes back healthy, Nola will drop down to at least No. 3 in the rotation. The bullpen is promising, as are rookie center fielder Justin Crawford and free-agent right fielder Adolis Garcia. Third baseman Alec Bohm is off to a hot start in a contract season.

Hopefully this year is different for the Phillies in a good way, and there are signs that it will be. It’s way too soon to tell. Saturday just felt awfully familiar with Nola and this offense.

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2ubd6btw

PHILADELPHIA — Wide receiver Hollywood Brown smiled at the podium. Fresh start. Fast offense. A quarterback who can stretch the field.

“I’m excited,” Brown said Thursday as the Eagles introduced him after the sides reached a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million. “I feel like this is the perfect place for me.”

The Eagles think so too.

“I just want to win,” Brown said at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. “However that looks, I’m with it.”

He spoke calmly, but with an edge. Opportunity has followed him. Consistency hasn’t always.

That’s part of the bet here.

Brown, 28, has flashed big-play ability throughout his career. He’s been a deep threat, a field-tilter. He posted a 1,008-yard season in 2021 and has averaged more than 13 yards per catch as a pro. But injuries and unstable situations have kept him from settling in one place long enough to fully deliver.

Now he steps into a system built for timing and explosion, with quarterback Jalen Hurts pushing the ball downfield.

“I’ve watched how they play,” Brown said. “Explosive. Physical. That’s me.”

The Eagles don’t need him to be the guy. That may be the point. With defenses focused on the top targets, Brown could see favorable matchups — one-on-one with space to run.

“If I get my chances,” he said, “I’m going to make the most of them.”

Brown also talked about fit. About culture. About a locker room that expects to contend.

“You can feel it,” he said. “The standard is high.”

That matters. The Eagles are not rebuilding. They are layering. Brown is one layer.

Braden Mann doesn’t deal in flash. His job is distance, hang time and placement. Quiet work that swings field position.

Still, he understands the stakes.

“Every rep matters,” Mann, the Eagles’ recently re-signed punter, said during his Thursday news conference. “You can change a game with one punt.”

He did that often last season.

Mann finished 2025 with 72 punts and a 49.9-yard average, one of the better marks in the league. He also dropped 20 inside the 20-yard line, a number that reflects control more than power.

That’s what the Eagles want. Not just distance, but precision.

“Coach talks about hidden yards,” Mann said. “That’s what we’re chasing.”

The punter spoke about consistency, about routine. Specialists live there. Same steps, same swing. same results.

“You’ve got to be the same guy every day,” he said.

Mann, 28, has carved out a role by doing just that. Drafted by the Jets in 2020, he spent three years with New York and had a cup of coffee with the Pittsburgh Steelers before landing in Philadelphia. Now, with a four-year, $14 million extension, he returns with long-term expectations.

Special teams can tilt games in January. The Eagles know that. So does Mann.

“It’s about flipping the field, giving the defense an edge,” he said.

No noise. Just work.

Dameon Pierce entered with a different tone. Running backs always do. There’s urgency in the way they speak. Carries are limited. Time is shorter.

“I’m ready to go,” Pierce said. “Whatever they need.”

The Eagles signed Pierce to a one-year deal, adding depth to a crowded backfield. He joins a backfield that already includes Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley and Carson Steele. There will be competition.

Pierce has lived that life.

A fourth-round pick out of Florida in 2022, he broke out as a rookie with 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries. At 5-foot-10, 215 pounds, he ran hard, broke tackles, earned touches.

The years since have been uneven.

He ran for 416 yards in 2023 and 293 in 2024. Most recently was on Chiefs’ practice squad after being waived by Houston in November

Now he gets another shot.

“Every day’s an opportunity,” Pierce said. “You don’t take that for granted.”

He talked about physicality. About finishing runs. About earning trust.

“Run hard. Protect the ball. Do your job,” he said.

Simple words. Hard business.

The Eagles don’t need Pierce to carry the offense. They need reliability. Depth. A runner who can step in and keep the system moving.

Pierce believes he can be that.

“I’ve shown what I can do,” he said. “Now it’s about doing it here.”

NOTES: The Eagles signed tight end Stone Scott to a one-year contract. In four seasons between the Chargers and Jets, he has 38 receptions for 432 yards and a touchdown. … The Minnesota Vikings re-signed former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, adding depth to a group that includes J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray and Max Brosmer. … Former Eagles running back Boston Scott announced his retirement. In six seasons here from 2018-2023, he rushed for 1,295 yards and 16 TDS on 302 carries. He also spent time on the practice squads of the Saints, Rams and Steelers.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2sud2286

PHILADELPHIA — Veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, unlike lots of folks these days, didn’t have to worry about extra-long TSA lines for his Wednesday flight to Philly during the partial government shutdown.

That’s because he piloted the plane himself.

“I found a passion for aviation a few years back and I flew up here today,” Jones said, just hours after arriving from Charlotte in his single-engine propeller plane for his introductory press conference with the Eagles. “It’s a little hobby of mine that I enjoy doing.

“I flew into Philly (International) Airport this morning. It was kind of nice to have the little approach over the Delaware River. It was kind of a nice touch for this morning.”

The 32-year-old Jones — an under-the-radar signing, so to speak — agreed to a one-year deal last week (financial terms not yet disclosed). The move came on the heels of the Birds inking Tariq Woolen to a one-year contract worth up to $15 million, as they continue to add secondary depth and address the outside cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell.

Jones’ NFL journey is an improbable one. At 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he was an undrafted free agent out of Auburn in 2016. But the New England Patriots picked him up and he spent his first nine seasons there, winning two Super Bowls.

He played in 12 games for the Washington Commanders last year, finishing with 41 tackles and five passes defended.

Jones has found a way to stay on the field for most of the last decade. Aside from a shoulder injury that landed him on IR in 2021, he has generally been a durable, consistent contributor. He did miss the tail end of the 2017 postseason, including Super Bowl LII against Nick Foles and the Eagles, with an injured ankle.

“I try to stay grounded, stay as low to the ground as I can,” the high-flying Jones, a native of Northwest Georgia, ironically said. “I’m always trying to compete, and I still have that childhood joy of playing football. I try to be a cerebral player and dissect offenses, understand how they’re trying to attack us, and go out there and compete.

“I think I have a good philosophy of how defenses are good at stopping offenses, and (how to) eliminate explosive plays. As a cornerback for a long time, I know you’re not going to stop every play, but I want to stop the explosives.”

Throughout his pro career, Jones has alternated between a full-time starter and a depth player. He has played both inside and outside. His most productive year was 2022, when he had four interceptions, including a pick-six, 11 passes defended and 69 tackles in 16 starts on the perimeter.

“I love playing football,” he said. “I can’t remember life before football, every fall since I was 4. … I love aggression. I love flying around on the field and making plays, supporting my teammates.”

Asked what attracted him to the Eagles, Jones had a simple answer: “Winning,” he said. “You watch week in and week out, they find ways to win. That’s so hard to do in this league.

“I kind of admired what this team’s been building over the last few years, some of the dominance they’ve been showing, year in and year out. … A lot of teams will be in the playoffs one year and then you may not hear from them for three or four years.”

Jones also expressed admiration for Mitchell and Cooper DeJean,

“They’re some really, really good young players who have already established themselves in the league, made a lot of plays,” he said. “I think I can be of help to those guys, help them build in their careers, because they have promising futures.”

Jones worked with Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino when both men were in New England. The corner called Pellegrino “one of the hardest working men in football.”

Eagles acquire QB Andy Dalton

Another import from North Carolina Wednesday was journeyman quarterback Andy Dalton, whom the Eagles got from the Panthers in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round pick.

Dalton is entering the second year of a two-year deal and is reportedly guaranteed $4 million. He will compete for a third-string spot, or perhaps second string, though the Eagles still think highly of backup QB Tanner McKee.

Dalton, 38, was a second-round pick out of TCU by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. He quickly emerged as a starter in Cincinnati, compiling a 70-61-2 record over nine seasons and leading the Bengals to four consecutive playoff berths while earning three Pro Bowl honors. Since then, he has played for the Cowboys, Saints, Bears and Carolina.

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From The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/mvawtmrb

PHILADELPHIA — Arnold Ebiketie remembers when he became an Eagles fan.

The edge rusher, a native of Cameroon, was a freshman at Temple University in 2017 and witnessed the city’s first Super Bowl championship celebration.

“We all know how the city gets after a Super Bowl here in Philly,” Ebiketie said at his introductory news conference Monday. “I remember being a young kid at Temple and walking from Cecil B. Moore all the way down Broad Street.

“The whole city rallies around the team. You see the passion everywhere. It’s hard not to get caught up in it. … Coming back to the same city at this stage of my career is something I’m grateful for.”

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Ebiketie, who played three seasons with the Owls before transferring to Penn State, signed a one-year, $7.3 million contract with the Eagles on Friday. It had been a whirlwind week for him and his family, who welcomed a new baby girl named Capri just as free agency was set to open.

“I was hoping she would have waited until after free agency … but she had her own plan, and she came out,” he joked.

Ebiketie, also known as “AK” (his middle name is Kevin), was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. He adds rotational reinforcement on the edge after the Birds were unable to re-sign Jaelan Phillips, who left for Carolina.

In four seasons in Atlanta, Ebiketie started 12 games (appearing in 67) and had 16.5 sacks, 41 QB hits and 129 combined tackles. He’s hoping for a breakout 2026.

“I pride myself on effort and consistency,” he said. “I try to bring energy every snap. Getting after the quarterback is something I take seriously.

“Right now, it’s just about learning the playbook and getting comfortable with everything. I want to earn the trust of the coaches and my teammates. … I’m ready to get to work.”

Ebiketie, 27, who went to high school in Montgomery County, Maryland, spoke with defensive tackle Jordan Davis for 30 minutes before opting to sign here. He joins another high-profile Cameroonian athlete in Philadelphia, the 76ers’ Joel Embiid.

“I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet, but obviously we all know the type of player he is,” Ebiketie said. “And given the fact he’s from Cameroon as well, I feel like it’s big for the country — having different guys be able to represent Cameroon on a basketball stage and a football stage.”

Darius Slay hangs ‘em up

Former Eagles cornerback Darius Slay announced his retirement Monday after 13 NFL seasons that included six Pro Bowl selections. He was also awarded All-Pro honors in 2017, when he led the league with eight interceptions.

“Big Play Slay” helped the Birds reach two Super Bowls, including a championship in Super Bowl LIX. He was a locker-room leader who helped mentor Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as rookie corners in 2024.

Slay also played for the Detroit Lions — who drafted him in the second round out of Mississippi State — and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Buffalo Bills traded for him in December, but he never reported to the team, saying he was considering retirement.

“This game put me in a position to take care of my family and loved ones and I'm forever grateful. It's hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I'm ready to turn the page and start my new journey,” he posted on Instagram.

Eagles go to Hollywood

The Eagles signed speedy wide receiver Hollywood Brown to a one-year contract reportedly worth up to $6.5 million Tuesday.

It obviously raises more questions about A.J. Brown’s future with the team, though Hollywood could slot in at No. 3.

The flashy Marquise Brown, 28, who hails from Hollywood, Fla., was drafted 25th overall out of Oklahoma by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. He went on to play for Arizona and Kansas City.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Brown missed most of last season with a sternoclavicular injury. In 73 games over seven years, he has 371 catches for 4,322 yards and 33 touchdowns.

In 2021 with the Ravens, he caught 91 balls for 1,008 yards and six TDs.

He’s a cousin of former All-Pro and Pro Bowl wideout Antonio Brown.

The deal occurred on the same day Denver acquired wide receiver Jalen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a first-, third- and fourth-round pick. The Broncos also received a Dolphins fourth-rounder in the swap.

The Eagles let Jahan Dotson, the third receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, walk when free agency began last week after declining to pick up his fifth-year option last offseason.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/4t546wjb

Tight end Dallas Goedert, who had a career year in both health and statistics, is returning to the Eagles on a one-year deal, MediaNews Group has confirmed Sunday.

Terms of the contract have not yet been released as of publication.

Goedert and the Eagles, who drafted him in the second round out of South Dakota State in 2018, had twice pushed back the void date of his contract — first to this past Friday and then to Monday — in an effort to hammer out an extension.

The delay in the void date benefited both sides. For the Eagles, it helped them avert the dead-cap costs of letting his contract expire and kept him off the open market. For Goedert, the temporary concession provided leverage and kept negotiations alive with the team while the free-agency market for tight ends stagnated.

Pushing back the void date signaled that both sides were interested in an extension.

Goedert, who has an injury history, scored 11 touchdowns last year — a franchise record for tight ends — and had 60 receptions for 591 yards in 15 games.

Notes

● The Eagles recently rejected aggressive trade offers from the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots for wide receiver A.J. Brown, according to multiple reports.

As previously reported by MediaNews Group, the Eagles won’t trade Brown unless they’re blown away by an offer. This means at least a first- and second-round pick, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

The issue could be revisited around April’s draft or when dead cap costs for trades are mitigated June 1.

If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1, they would be saddled with approximately $43.5 million in dead cap money — about $20 million more than keeping him — based on estimates from Spotrac, a leading tracker of pro sports contracts.

After June 1, the Eagles’ dead cap hit would drop to $16.35 million spread over two years and create roughly $7 million in immediate salary-cap space for 2026.

A pre–June 1 trade partner could absorb some of the cap cost for the Eagles, but no team has been willing to do so while also meeting general manager Howie Roseman’s first- and second-round asking price for Brown.

● The Eagles and edge rusher Josh Sweat reportedly have mutual interest in reuniting. Sweat, a major part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX run, signed with Arizona last offseason, but has requested a trade.

● Jalen Hurts appeared at Enon Baptist Tabernacle Church on Cheltenham Avenue last week to promote his new children’s book, “Better Than a Touchdown.”

Zach Berman of The Athletic asked Hurts about the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, a former quarterback who was QBs coach with the Green Bay Packers.

“He’s amazing,” Hurts told Berman. “I’m excited for what’s to come. Obviously, (interactions) have been limited, given the timing of everything.”

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/57azfm34

PHILADELPHIA — Tariq Woolen understands the opportunity in front of him.

The Eagles’ newest cornerback said he’s ready to compete for a role in a secondary that has been searching for stability opposite Quinyon Mitchell since last summer.

“I’m just excited to be here,” Woolen said during his introductory press conference at the team facility Thursday. “I’m ready to work and compete and show what I can do.”

The Eagles agreed to terms with the 26-year-old corner earlier this week on a one-year, $12 million deal that adds a former Pro Bowl player with rare size and speed to a position group that has been in flux.

At 6-foot-4 with elite long speed, Woolen brings a physical profile that few cornerbacks possess. He ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash during the 2022 pre-draft process and immediately turned heads as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks, recording six interceptions and earning Pro Bowl honors.

Now he arrives in Philadelphia looking for a fresh start.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot to prove,” said Woolen, whose payout can increase to $15 million with incentives. “I’m ready to come in, learn the defense and help this team win.”

Addressing the CB2 question

Cornerback depth has been a lingering question for the Eagles since training camp last year. The outside spot opposite Mitchell never fully stabilized. Injuries and inconsistent play forced the Eagles to rotate multiple players through the CB2 role during the season.

The team’s defensive structure under coordinator Vic Fangio places a premium on corners who can play press coverage, use length on the perimeter and handle matchups without constant safety help.

Woolen fits that profile.

Originally selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he transitioned to cornerback only late in his college career after beginning as a wide receiver at University of Texas at San Antonio. His combination of length, speed and ball skills allowed him to develop quickly.

Over four seasons in Seattle, Woolen recorded 203 combined tackles, 12 interceptions and 53 passes defended.

A prove-it opportunity

Philadelphia’s one-year deal gives the Eagles flexibility while giving Woolen a chance to reset his trajectory.

Woolen said the Birds’ defensive identity — and their expectation to compete for championships — was a major reason he wanted to come here after Seattle declined to re-sign him.

“It’s a winning culture,” he said. “You see how they play defense here. That’s something I wanted to be a part of.”

For the Eagles, the move represents a low-risk addition with potentially significant upside.

If Woolen returns to the form he showed early in his career, he could quickly emerge as the favorite for the starting job opposite Mitchell. At minimum, his presence adds another long, athletic corner to a position group that needed depth.

The Eagles have built much of their defensive philosophy around generating pressure up front and allowing their corners to challenge receivers on the outside. Woolen’s physical traits — particularly his height and speed — make him an intriguing fit.

“I’m ready to compete,” Woolen said. “That’s what it’s about.”

Landon Dickerson’s shortened deal

The Eagles and three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson have agreed to a restructured two-year contract at $36 million, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported.

Dickerson was previously due $39 million in 2026-27 but can hit that with 2027 incentives.

He’s due $15.7 million this year and is no longer under contract in 2028.

Jihaad Campbell update

Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, set to replace Nakobe Dean full-time alongside Zack Baun, is suffering from a serious shoulder injury and will miss most of the offseason, Fangio told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark at a reception honoring former coach Dick Vermeil.

Campbell, whom the Eagles drafted in the first round last year, has been dealing with shoulder issues since college at Alabama. He underwent surgery on a torn labrum before the 2024 draft, which may have caused him to fall to the Eagles at No. 31.

Campbell, a South Jersey native, played in 18 games last season, starting 10 before Dean returned from a knee injury. He had 80 combined tackles, three pass deflections, a QB hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Dean agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders this week.

Extension for Braden Mann

The Eagles re-signed punter Braden Mann to a four-year, $14 million deal with $7 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

His gross punting average (49.9 yards) ranked sixth in the NFL. Mann, 28, had a net average of 43.9 yards. His 20 punts inside the 20-yard line were middle of the pack. He tied for the ninth-longest punt in the league with a 70-yarder.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/37jatxh3

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles opened the new NFL league year Wednesday by doubling down on defense.

Defensive tackle Jordan Davis addressed reporters after signing a major extension, and the team agreed to terms with former Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen as free agency officially opened at 4 p.m.

Davis, who has become one of the anchors of the defensive front, spoke at the Jefferson Health Training Complex about the extension and the expectations that come with it.

“I just want to be the best player I could be for the team,” Davis said. “I’m definitely proud of the work that I’ve been putting in. And that’s not stopping.”

Davis has grown into one of the Eagles’ most important defensive players since being selected 13th overall out of Georgia in the 2022 draft. At 6-foot-6 and roughly 330 pounds, he has developed into a dominant interior presence and a centerpiece of a defensive line that helped power the Birds’ recent championship run.

His new contract reflects that importance. The Eagles rewarded Davis with a three-year extension worth $78 million, with $65 million guaranteed, making him the highest paid nose tackle in NFL history.

During Wednesday’s presser, Davis emphasized that the deal represents motivation rather than a finish line.

“This is not the best that I can be,” he said. “I’m always scratching and clawing for that.”

Davis’ growth over the past several seasons has been significant. Early in his career, he was viewed primarily as an elite run-stopper, but his pass-rushing ability has steadily improved. In 2025, he posted career highs in tackles and sacks while continuing to command attention from opposing offensive lines.

He is coming off the most productive season of his career. In 2025, he started all 17 games and recorded 72 tackles, 4.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and six passes defended — all career-highs.

Davis also delivered one of the more unusual highlights of the Eagles’ season, returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams.

The former first-round pick reshaped his body heading into the season, reporting to training camp 26 pounds lighter in an effort to improve his stamina and become a more complete player.

The Eagles have increasingly leaned on their defensive front as the foundation of their identity, and locking up Davis ensures that core remains intact. Extending defensive tackle Jalen Carter remains a top priority.

“The ceiling is the only thing you place upon yourself,” Davis said. “And I’m still chasing it.”

While Davis represents continuity, the organization also made an early move by agreeing to terms with Woolen, a former Pro Bowl cornerback who spent the first four seasons of his pro career with the Seattle Seahawks, who just won the Super Bowl.

Woolen, 26, joins on a one-year contract worth up to $15 million, bringing rare size and speed to a secondary that already features emerging young playmakers.

Originally a fifth-round pick in 2022 out of UTSA, Woolen quickly became one of the league’s most intriguing defensive backs. A converted wide receiver with elite athletic traits, he recorded six interceptions as a rookie and earned Pro Bowl honors.

At 6-foot-4 with exceptional straight-line speed, Woolen has the type of physical profile teams covet for outside cornerbacks. Over four seasons in Seattle, he appeared in 64 games, totaling 203 tackles, 12 interceptions and 53 passes defended.

The Eagles hope Woolen will solidify the second outside cornerback spot, opposite All-Pro Quinyon Mitchell, and strengthen a young secondary that also includes All-Pro nickel corner Cooper DeJean.

The addition also helps address depth in the defensive backfield after the Eagles lost several contributors in free agency, including safety Reed Blankenship to Houston and linebacker Nakobe Dean to Las Vegas. It’s a “show-me” contract for Woolen, whose production leveled off after his rookie campaign.

Notes

• Backup quarterback Sam Howell agreed to a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Philly after spending the 2025 season as a reserve behind Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee.

• Edge rusher Josh Uche will not return after signing with the Miami Dolphins. Uche had joined the Eagles during the 2025 season but played a limited role in the defensive rotation.

• Backup offensive lineman Brett Toth agreed to a deal with the San Francisco 49ers, continuing the steady churn of depth pieces that often accompanies free agency

• The Eagles are exploring additional help at edge rusher, with league reports indicating interest in Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard.

The position became a greater focus after edge rusher Jaelan Phillips departed in free agency earlier this week, leaving Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt among the top edge defenders currently under contract as of publication.

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/f7wecwj2

The days leading up to free agency have been unkind to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Already gone are edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, strong safety Reed Blankenship, linebacker Nakobe Dean and wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

Poof! Up in smoke went four players in the span of a dark Monday.

Phillips: four years, $120 million, $80 million guaranteed. Blankenship: three years, $24.75 million, $16.5 million guaranteed. Dean: three years, $36 million, $20 million guaranteed. Dotson: two years, $15 million, $10 million guaranteed.

The last two were expected. But the Eagles anticipated re-signing Phillips and believed they at least had a shot at keeping Blankenship. No such luck. Both Phillips and Blankenship — still in their mid-to-late 20s — agreed to terms with other teams by Monday night.

Phillips is going to Carolina and Blankenship is bound for Houston.

Dean, 25, will be a Las Vegas Raider. (He reportedly opted over a similar offer from the Cowboys.) Dotson, also 25, will be an Atlanta Falcon.

The deals don’t become official until free agency begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, but they’re already worked out.

The Eagles were willing to part with Dotson and Dean. They weren’t going to overspend on a No. 3 receiver, and last year they invested a first-round pick in linebacker Jihaad Campbell — who had a promising rookie campaign — to replace Dean, whom they knew would garner big money when his contract expired.

But Phillips? Man, that hurt.

General manager Howie Roseman spent a third-round pick to acquire him from the Dolphins before the trade deadline last November, and he became a reliable force on the front line.

And Blankenship — not only was he a solid, B+/A- safety the Eagles rarely had to worry about, he was a sentimental favorite, a homegrown talent signed as an undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee State in 2022.

In four seasons here, Blankenship had 308 combined tackles, nine interceptions, 23 pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His agreement with Houston doesn’t seem like an exorbitant price.

Dean often struggled with injuries, but he was a team leader and productive when on the field, tallying 226 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 18 QB pressures, five pass deflections, three forced fumbles and an interception in his four years with the Birds.

Campbell, in 17 games (10 starts), had a stat line that included 80 combined tackles, a pick, three pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a dynamic inaugural season. He won the starting job over Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in camp and only took on a rotational role after Dean returned from injured reserve.

Two years ago, Roseman hit a jackpot in the draft with cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second rounds. This April, with his defense depleted, he needs to strike gold again.

He also still needs a tight end.

Free agent Dallas Goedert, as of publication, remains on the open market. The Eagles can’t just have no tight end — which is literally where they are right now, since backup Grant Calcaterra is likely gone.

Rosters are rapidly changing every day. Roseman could still pull a couple rabbits out of his hat, and the draft is next month. But right now, Eagles fans are worried. And rightly so.

—

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/597fdbzu

The NFL’s “legal tampering” period began Monday, and Jahan Dotson and Jaelan Phillips are both headed south.

Dotson, a product of Nazareth Area High School in the Lehigh Valley, who went on to star as a leading wide receiver at Penn State, will be signing with the Atlanta Falcons when free agency becomes official Wednesday at 4 p.m., according to multiple reports.

The agreement is for two years, $15 million, including $10 million guaranteed, plus performance incentives that could increase the payout to $17 million.

Edge rusher Phillips — whom the Eagles were aggressively trying to re-sign — is reportedly opting to join the Carolina Panthers on a four-year deal worth $120 million, including $80 million guaranteed.

This week, players and their agents are legally permitted to negotiate with any teams they choose leading up to Wednesday afternoon’s start of free agency.

Dotson set Nazareth career records for receptions (187), receiving yards (2,755) and touchdowns (40).

He ranks second in Penn State history in receptions (183) and single-season receptions (91 in 2021), fourth in receiving yards (2,757), second in single-season receiving yards (1,182 in 2021), and second in touchdowns (25) and single-season touchdowns (12 in 2021).

Dotson was drafted 16th overall by the Washington Commanders in 2022. As Washington cycled through quarterbacks, he never quite found a groove. The Eagles traded for him late in training camp in 2024.

As a third option behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Dotson failed to flourish here. In 34 regular-season games, he had 37 catches for 478 yards and one TD. In four postseason games, he had four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. He had a pair of receptions in Super Bowl LIX.

During the 2024 season, Dotson made a memorable, acrobatic catch for 36 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars — the same game in which Saquon Barkley did his reverse hurdle. Working against cornerback Tyson Campbell, who had Dotson well-covered, the receiver leapt into the air and tipped the ball to himself for a completion near the sideline, causing the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field to erupt in cheers.

Last April, the Eagles declined to pick up Dotson’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent this offseason.

The Birds acquired Phillips from the Miami Dolphins for a third-round pick before last November’s trade deadline, and he immediately helped stabilize the defensive front. He finished with five sacks, 14 QB hits, 53 combined tackles, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 games between Miami and Philadelphia

Phillips, 26, was a first-round pick (No. 18 overall) out of the University of Miami in 2021 and reunited in Philly with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who coached him with the Dolphins in 2023.

Phillips and Dotson will square off at least twice a year in the NFC South.

Now, inking defensive tackle Jalen Carter to a contract extension may be the Eagles’ top priority — as well as finding someone else to play on the edge.

—

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2e8hayan

The Eagles arrived at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week with the kind of question that tends to follow good teams after a messy finish: Is their biggest offensive star staying put or about to become someone else’s centerpiece?

Coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman didn’t exactly pour water on the A.J. Brown trade chatter, according to multiple reports. They offered no promise the wide receiver will be back next season.

“My expectation is he wants to be here,” Sirianni said in a session with local media ahead of the combine. “And, obviously, you always you want good players like that in your building.”

Sirianni then ran straight into the reality of the NFL calendar — and the reality of his own job, too.

“Will A.J. be here next season? I mean, I think that we’re still in a spot like I can’t guarantee how anything’s going to play out into the next season. I can’t guarantee that,” Sirianni said. “I mean, I was thinking I’m going to be the head coach next season, but it’s like you can’t guarantee anything past tomorrow.”

Brown, 28, has been productive enough to make the question worth asking. He has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four years in Philadelphia and has 339 catches for 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns in 62 games here. He also has been the public face of their offensive frustration at times, including during a 2025 campaign that ended in a wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Sirianni wasn’t interested in relitigating how Brown handled that frustration.

“You guys know me,” Sirianni said. “I’m not gonna say, ‘Hey here’s what I thought this player should have done.’ Just know I’m always communicating with our guys … because I think where you get in trouble is when the job description is not clear.”

What Sirianni did make clear was how much he values Brown inside the building.

“As Howie said, it’s hard to get good players in this league. A.J. is a great player and A.J. is a good teammate and A.J. is a good person,” Sirianni said. “And so, like I said earlier, yeah, does he want to be here? Yes. And do I want him to be here? Yes. So, you know, hopefully that works out.”

Roseman didn’t close the door on a trade, either — because he almost never closes the door.

“I don’t think you can go into any conversation with anyone and just shoot things down without hearing what they have to say, because you never know,” said Roseman, backing up MediaNews Group reporting that was published Monday. “You never know if someone is going to give you something that you didn’t anticipate and if you won’t even have the conversation, I don’t think you’re necessarily doing your job or really servicing the team that you’re with.”

Roseman framed it as diligence, the same way he talks about draft boards and contract structures. Listen first. Decide later.

“Without getting into specifics on any player, we’re always listening, and we’re always kind of open,” he said. “There’s very few things that I would shoot down without even hearing what that means, because how does it hurt to listen?”

Still, he paired that openness with a familiar roster-building philosophy — and a not-so-subtle reminder of what Brown is.

“It’s really hard to find great players. I think A.J. is a great player,” Roseman said. “We’re looking to improve in all areas, and you don’t do that by subtracting.”

Mannion’s blueprint

The Brown conversation is tied to something else the Eagles have been careful not to oversell: the scope of their offensive reset under new coordinator Sean Mannion.

Sirianni said the Eagles interviewed 17 candidates before landing on the 33-year-old former NFL quarterback, and he described Mannion as a coach whose “conviction” jumped out during the process.

“You just could tell right away how sharp he was and then we get him here to the building, it was very obvious,” Sirianni said. “When you do that and when you cast a wide net and you go through the process like that, it reveals itself to you of who the right one is.”

Sirianni also explained what he wanted to hear from a first-time play-caller.

“If I’m a leader, I need to go in there and I need to be like, ‘Hey, here’s what the f— we’re doing. And here’s why we’re doing it,’” Sirianni said. “And sometimes you don’t get that level of conviction unless you’ve really prepped for it, unless you really believe in it.”

The expectation, Sirianni said, is that the Eagles will look “very different” offensively — leaning into concepts from the modern West Coast coaching tree of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.

Sirianni reportedly had final say on hiring Mannion.

The Stoutland void

The offensive shift helps explain another combine subplot: Sirianni’s first extended comments about Jeff Stoutland’s resignation after 13 seasons coaching the Eagles’ offensive line.

“Obviously, he’s been such a huge, important piece of the puzzle of what we’ve done here,” Sirianni said. “At the end of the day, Stout got to where he was and I obviously wish him the best and I’m going to deeply miss him.”

Stoutland announced his departure earlier this month, writing, “I’ve decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end,” and later adding, “I didn’t just work here, I became one of you. Stout out.”

Sirianni said the Eagles wanted Stoutland to remain but acknowledged the staff and scheme changes were pulling the offense in a new direction.

“And it’s a different … some of the things that we think we’re leaning towards doing is a different way of going about it, and (we’re) excited about that opportunity,” Sirianni said.

For now, the Eagles are living in the in-between of late February: saying Brown is a “great player,” saying Mannion is “sharp,” saying Stoutland will be missed — and saying almost nothing with the kind of finality that would make the questions stop.

—

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/3tywwehw

Even with Lane Johnson returning for another season at age 36, which he confirmed last week, right tackle will be among the Eagles’ positions of interest at the NFL Scouting Combine, starting today and running through next Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The six-time Pro-Bowl selection, still elite when healthy, missed the final eight games (including playoffs) last season with a Lisfranc foot injury. He has mulled retirement for a couple years.

Johnson reportedly has met with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and new O-line coach Chris Kuper. He will eventually share his thoughts about the sudden departure of Jeff Stoutland, with whom he is close, but for now he’s looking forward to playing in the Mannion/Kuper West Coast-oriented system.

Over his 13-year career, the Eagles are 110-57-1 when Johnson is on the field and 18-27 when he isn’t. Last year, they were 8-2 with him and 3-5 without him.

Johnson was the fourth overall pick in 2013 out of Oklahoma. But left tackle Jordan Mailata, who credits Stoutland with his own development, was a seventh-rounder in 2018. It’s just a reminder that high-quality linemen can be found all over the draft.

Line depth in 2025 was a concern beyond Johnson’s health. Three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson had meniscus surgery shortly before the season, and he battled neck, shoulder and ankle injuries throughout. And center Cam Jurgens, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, struggled recovering from back surgery, missed three games with a knee injury and suffered a concussion.

With a faltering line, among other problems, the Eagles’ offense regressed. So general manager Howie Roseman will have several line reinforcements in mind at the combine.

The Birds will select 23rd in the first round of April’s draft and currently have eight picks overall, including projected compensatory selections — a first- and second-rounder, and two apiece in the third, fourth and fifth rounds.

In addition to tackle, at least three other needs stand out as Roseman and Co. descend on Indianapolis:

Tight end

Dallas Goedert, 31, who has dealt with injuries much of his career, played in 15 games last season and scored 11 touchdowns, a franchise record at the position. He became Jalen Hurts’ go-to guy in the red zone. But it was the final year of his restructured deal, and he’s likely out the door. That’s a big hole to fill.

Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is clearly the top tight end prospect, but the class isn’t considered particularly deep. Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers and Ohio State’s Max Klare are in the next tier, followed by Mitchell Evans (Notre Dame), Oscar Delp (Georgia) and Jack Endries (Cal).

The Eagles may have to get creative to find an answer.

CB2

Two years ago, Roseman hit a home run with outside cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the first round, and then hit on slot corner Cooper DeJean in Round 2. But unless the Eagles want to re-sign Adoree’ Jackson, 31, at the second boundary corner spot, he’ll walk away in March.

They want an upgrade at the position, and a relatively deep cornerback class could offer one on a rookie contract.

Michigan’s Will Johnson and Ohio State’s Denzel Burke lead the pack, according to most analysts, with Tacario Davis (Arizona), Denver Harris (UNLV), Toriano Pride Jr. (Missouri) and Avieon Terrell (Clemson) also grading well.

Even the third round could provide high-upside talent. But the league has a dearth of premium corners, so names may come off the board quickly.

Strong safety

Reed Blankenship, whom Philadelphia signed as an undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee State in 2022, may have played his final game with the Eagles.

“You think about it … and it’s tough,” Blankenship said when the season ended. “I was emotional coming in here, just knowing the guys I came in with, it’s not going to be the same. Who knows where we all end up? That’s just part of the business side of it. They can’t keep us all. I wish they could.”

Blankenship, an unrestricted free agent who turns 27 next week, has become a reliable leader of the defense, a “set it and forget it” presence on the back end. He may not command a top-echelon salary, but he’ll draw significant offers that could be challenging for the Birds to match.

Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is not only elite among safeties, but he is also considered one of the best prospects in the draft and is projected to go in the top 10 to 15. Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren slots below him, followed by a string of midlevel prospects that includes Dillon Thieneman (Oregon), Kamari Ramsey (USC), Zakee Wheatley (Penn State), A.J. Haulcy (LSU), Bud Clark (TCU), Michael Taaffe (Texas) and Jakobe Thomas (Miami).

The Jaelan Phillips question

Whether to re-sign edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, 27, whom the Eagles acquired from the Dolphins for a third-round pick before last year’s trade deadline, is a burning question. It will depend on his salary demands.

Phillips finished with five sacks, 14 QB hits, 53 combined tackles, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 games between Miami and Philadelphia. Despite a subpar performance against San Francisco in the playoffs — the case for several Eagles — he stabilized the Birds’ defensive front when he arrived in November.

It’s a deep draft class for edge rushers, with Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. leading the way as a potential top-five pick. He is closely followed by David Bailey of Texas Tech, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell.

Other names to keep in mind include T.J. Parker (Clemson), Mason Thomas (Oklahoma), Romello Height (Texas Tech) and Gabe Jacas (Illinois).

Key offseason dates

• Feb. 23-March 2: NFL Scouting Combine.

• March 3: Deadline of 4 p.m. ET to tag players with Franchise or Transition designations (open since Feb. 17).

• March 9-11: Legal “tampering” period for players who will become unrestricted free agents. Players and their agents may negotiate with teams but cannot sign until 4 p.m. March 11.

• March 11: 2026 league year and free agency signing period begin at 4 p.m. New salary cap takes effect. Roster bonuses kick in for relevant contracts. Teams must be in financial compliance by 11:59:59 p.m. March 12.

• March 29-April 1: Annual league meeting, Phoenix.

• April 15: Deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview or conduct physical examinations with draft-eligible players at the club facility.

• April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

• April 20: Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

• April 22: Deadline for prior club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents who signed offer sheets. Deadline for teams to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct physical examinations with a draft-eligible players at any non-club location.

• April 23-25: 2026 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh.

• May 1: Deadline for clubs to exercise fifth-year option for players selected in the first round of the 2023 draft.

• May 1-4 or May 8-11: Teams may hold their three-day post-draft rookie minicamp.

• May 11: Rookie development programs begin.

• May 19-20: Spring league meeting, Orlando, Fla.

• June 1: Teams incur a lesser cap hit when cutting or trading players because bonuses/guaranteed money can be deferred.

• July 15: Deadline of 4 p.m. for teams to sign any players designated with the Franchise tag.

• Mid-July: Clubs may open preseason training camp for rookies.

• Late July: Full training camps open.

Dates for team OTAs and minicamps have yet to be announced by individual clubs.

Notes

• Jurgens, 26, recently spent time at BioXcellerator in Medellin, Colombia, for stem cell therapy. He called it a “health reset week” on his Instagram page.

BioXcellerator describes itself as a “global leader in stem cell therapy for orthopedic and sports injuries, spine and disc conditions, autoimmune and degenerative diseases, and other disorders.” Its corporate office is in Scottsdale, Ariz., but it performs regenerative treatments in Medellin because of restrictions in the United States.

Jurgens, who was rumored to be contemplating retirement after an injury-riddled 2025, received intradiscal stem cell infusions in his back and also underwent ozone therapy, cryotherapy and traditional physical therapy during his visits.

“I’m excited to get healthy and get ready for this next season,” Jurgens said in his Instagram post. “That’s why I’m down here. … Go Birds!”

• Running back Saquon Barkley said he’s “super excited” to play in Mannion’s offense.

“I’ve had a lot of different coaches and head coaches and been a part of a lot of systems. I don’t think I really came across a system like this,” Barkley told NFL Network. “For me, it’s refreshing. You get something new. You get to learn something new.”

• The Eagles will listen to trade offers for wide receiver A.J. Brown, but won’t pull the trigger unless they’re bowled over by a proposal.

—

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/yx6ssuds

The Eagles’ makeover of their offensive coaching staff continued like a slow drip this week, finally nearing completion.

The team moved Parks Frazier from passing game coordinator to quarterbacks coach, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Frazier, 34, who has never been a position coach, will be responsible for fixing what ails Jalen Hurts.

On the surface, Hurts’ stats last season were respectable: tied for 12th in passer rating (98.5), tied for ninth in touchdowns (25) compared to just six interceptions, and 16th in passing yards (3,224).

But his 64% completion percentage ranked 23rd. And he held the ball an average of 3.07 seconds, which is in the bottom half of the league, as he bypassed open receivers and took the 10th most sacks (32) in the NFL.

Most pro quarterbacks get rid of the ball in 2.7-2.9 seconds.

Plus, there was the eyeball test. The offense just didn’t run smoothly and came up small in the biggest moments.

Considering Frazier was passing game coordinator, he shoulders some blame. Former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo already took the brunt of it, fired from the role in January and replaced by Sean Mannion.

But as quarterbacks coach, Frazier won’t be focusing on big-picture offensive issues. He’ll be focusing on Hurts’ fundamentals: footwork, drop-backs, effective play action, read progression, quick release of the ball. In other words, all the underlying mechanics that determine how proficient a passer can be.

Mannion, who coached Jordan Love in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur, will also be working directly with Hurts.

The Eagles reportedly interviewed longtime offensive coach Greg Olson and Arizona Cardinals passing game specialist Connor Senger for QBs coach, but opted for Frazier. The Birds hired Josh Grizzard as passing game coordinator last month.

Frazier played quarterback at Murray State before embarking on his coaching career. His first NFL job was with the Indianapolis Colts, where he worked with Nick Sirianni and Frank Reich from 2018-2020, before Sirianni left to take the head job here.

He was Reich’s assistant quarterbacks coach for two years before Reich was fired, and he became interim offensive coordinator under interim coach Jeff Saturday in a 2022 whirlwind.

Carson Wentz started all 17 games for the Colts in 2021, but after an upset loss to Jacksonville in the season finale ended their playoff chances, then-owner Jim Irsay demanded Wentz be traded.

Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles all started for the Colts in 2022. The following year, Frazier joined Reich with the Carolina Panthers as passing game coordinator. He spent 2024 as an offensive assistant in Miami under Mike McDaniel before coming to the Eagles a year ago.

Frazier is Hurts’ sixth quarterbacks coach as a pro. He follows Press Taylor (2020), Brian Johnson (2021-2022), Alex Tanney (2023), Doug Nussmeier (2024) and Scot Loeffler (2025).

Here’s how the Eagles’ primary offensive staff shapes up now:

Offensive coordinator: Sean Mannion

Passing game coordinator: Josh Grizzard

Quarterbacks coach: Parks Frazier

Offensive line coach: Chris Kuper

TEs/run game coordinator: Ryan Mahaffey

RBs/assistant head coach: Jemal Singleton

Wide receivers coach: Aaron Moorehead

NOTES: In another move, the Eagles are adding Fred Hale from Notre Dame as assistant strength and conditioning coach. Hale was head strength and conditioning coach/director of player performance and sports science for five years with the Fighting Irish, hired when Marcus Freeman took over the program. He will work under Fernando Noriega, who has been with the Eagles since 2021. … As reported online Tuesday, the Eagles’ headquarters/practice facility will no longer be called NovaCare Complex. Its new name is the Jefferson Health Training Complex. NovaCare Rehabilitation will remain the team’s official physical therapy partner.

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/5yedbajx

The Eagles have found their replacement for Jeff Stoutland, the legendary offensive line coach who decided to leave the organization last week.

New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion hired Vikings assistant Chris Kuper on Feb. 9 to oversee an offensive line regarded as the backbone of the Eagles’ recent success. The two worked together when Mannion was in Minnesota as a player.

Kuper, 43, spent the last four seasons as O-line coach with the Vikings and previously worked as an assistant line coach with the Broncos and Dolphins.

The Vikings missed the playoffs in 2025 after choosing not to keep quarterback Sam Darnold last offseason. Darnold, who had helped guide Minnesota to 14 wins, just won the Super Bowl with Seattle.

Kuper has big shoes to fill. Stoutland, 63, was in Philadelphia for 13 years and helped establish the Eagles as one of the NFL’s most consistently physical teams. It earned him near-universal respect both inside and outside the building.

The hire continues a broader reworking of the Eagles’ offensive staff under Mannion, who was introduced last month. Kuper, who played eight years as a guard with the Denver Broncos, grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. He was drafted in the fifth round out of North Dakota in 2006.

Kuper began his coaching career in 2015 as O-line coach at Columbine High School in suburban Denver before moving on to an NFL opportunity with the Miami Dolphins. Mannion, 33, was a backup quarterback for the Vikings in 2023 when Kuper was there.

Stoutland’s exit followed weeks of uncertainty surrounding his role. He was dissatisfied with adjustments to his responsibilities under a fluid offensive structure, including his removal as run game coordinator when head coach Nick Sirianni stepped in to try to help Kevin Patullo save his job as OC late in the year.

More importantly, Stoutland’s overall philosophy didn’t mesh with Mannion’s West Coast system, which includes pre-snap motion and zone-blocking run concepts. Stoutland declined an offer to return in a revised position, ending an era that involved the development of multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro linemen.

By hiring Mannion and giving him autonomy to make key staff hires, such as Kuper and pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard, the Eagles are returning to a West Coast offense for the first time since Andy Reid’s departure following the 2012 season.

Minnesota’s offensive line results during Kuper’s tenure were uneven, particularly in pass protection in 2025, when the Vikings had a carousel of quarterbacks that included the oft-injured J.J. McCarthy, whom they viewed as the future of the franchise, Carson Wentz and undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. Mannion was not retained when the season ended.

The Eagles valued his background as a former lineman and his familiarity with Mannion’s approach. Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell comes from the same West Coast school Mannion does, which includes Sean McVay, Kyle Shannahan and Matt LaFleur.

The challenge for Kuper will be maintaining a standard that has become ingrained in Philadelphia. Stoutland’s hard-driving methods — often referred to by players as “Stoutland University” — emphasized fundamentals, conditioning and communication, helping the Eagles remain effective even amid frequent personnel and head coaching changes.

That legacy has set high expectations for whoever followed him, especially in a city where line play is closely watched.

The Eagles’ offensive line — three-fifths of which was injured at various times last year —faces question marks this offseason, including health and whether five-time All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson decides to retire. Johnson, who turns 36 in May, missed the final seven weeks of the season with a foot injury.

Left guard Landon Dickerson underwent meniscus surgery in training camp and later battled ankle, calf and back injuries. Center Cam Jurgens had persistent knee and back issues and suffered a concussion in Week 11.

Wide receiver A.J. Brown, the subject of trade rumors after he repeatedly expressed frustration with the offense, said during a Super Bowl podcast interview with Micah Parsons that Philadelphia is “home” and he’s looking forward to the Eagles “rediscovering” themselves under Mannion.

“I’m always excited,” he said. “You know, sometimes change is not a bad thing. I have the utmost respect for K.P. (Kevin Patullo). To me, he did a tremendous job and he has a great heart. But I’m excited for the season. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

NOTES: The Eagles are currently a top favorite to win the 2026 Super Bowl at +1,300, tied with the Patriots and Ravens, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Bills are at +1,100 followed by the Rams and champion Seahawks at +950.

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc for the latest updates.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/69sawhut

PHILADELPHIA — Jeff Stoutland’s fate was sealed the moment the Eagles hired Sean Mannion as their new offensive coordinator.

Stoutland, the vaunted offensive line coach and run game coordinator, who had been here since 2013 through multiple head coaches, announced Wednesday night that he’s leaving.

“Philadelphia, I’ve decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end,” Stoutland, 63, posted on X. “When I arrived here in 2013, I did not know what I was signing up for. I quickly learned what this city demands. But more importantly, what it gives back. The past 13 years have been the great privilege of my coaching career. I didn’t just work here, I became one of you. Stout out.”

Chip Kelly hired him in 2013, and he stayed on with Doug Pederson and Nick Sirianni. He was an integral part of the Eagles’ two Super Bowl championships in 2017 and 2024. Under Stoutland’s stewardship, Saquon Barkley became just the ninth running back in NFL history to crack 2,000 yards in a season.

Stoutland, who grew up on Staten Island, also won a pair of BCS national titles as Nick Saban’s O-line coach at Alabama in 2011 and 2012.

Eagles offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, both of whom could be enshrined in Canton someday, dubbed the coach’s methods “Stoutland University,” crediting him for their development and the sustained success of the Birds’ offensive line for more than a decade.

Mailata, an Australian native and former rugby player, had never played American football before the Eagles drafted him in the seventh round in 2018. He has since become an All-Pro and one of the most respected left tackles in the league.

Retired Eagles center Jason Kelce posted: “There is absolutely no one I credit more with the career I had than Jeff Stoutland. The consistent passion and his eagerness to teach pushed my teammates, me, and our room to amazing success. More importantly, we became incredibly close as people. It was more than just coaching and teaching, it was his presence and sense of urgency that was unaccepting of mediocrity and potential left behind.”

During training camp last July, the Pro Football Writers of America presented Stoutland with a lifetime achievement award as an assistant coach. But Stoutland’s system and Mannion’s system don’t mesh.

Mannion, 33, was hired as offensive coordinator Jan. 29 after serving as quarterbacks coach in Green Bay. He comes from the Bill Walsh offensive tree, carried on by innovators such as the Rams’ Sean McVay, the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan and the Packers’ Matt LaFleur. The philosophy features quarterbacks frequently under center, timing routes, pre-snap motion, and zone-blocking concepts in the running game.

Stoutland has often been resistant to such concepts, particularly pre-snap motion, because he believes they add undue stress on O-linemen. Once the Eagles hired Mannion to replace Kevin Patullo, who was relieved of play-calling duties after the season, either Stoutland was going to have to adjust or Mannion was. Instead, they opted to part ways.

Stoutland’s resignation — and the Eagles being OK with it — further signals a sea change for a Birds offense that had grown stale and needed a shakeup. That said, three-fifths of the offensive line was significantly injured in 2024 (right tackle Johnson, left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens).

“Stout’s influence throughout football is immense, having helped countless players reach their true potential,” the Eagles said in a press statement. “Our organization is deeply grateful for Stout’s contributions to our team over the last 13 seasons. In addition to helping to deliver three Super Bowl trips and two World Championships to the City of Philadelphia, he has been a champion of our community.”

NOTES: Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, as expected, confirmed he's returning for 2026. ... On the eight-year anniversary of the Eagles winning their first-ever Super Bowl, which included Frank Reich as their offensive coordinator, the New York Jets hired Reich as their OC Wednesday. It’s unclear whom the Jets’ starting quarterback will be next season. … Dianna Russini, senior NFL insider for The Athletic, said at Super Bowl Radio Row she expects the Eagles to trade wide receiver A.J. Brown this offseason and added that several teams would offer a second-round draft pick in return.

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/3retx9kk

The murder of former Eagles defensive lineman Kevin Johnson at a Los Angeles homeless encampment may be linked to three other killings in the area, according to reports out of Southern California Tuesday.

The L.A. County medical examiner said Johnson, who played two seasons with the Eagles in the mid-1990s, died of “blunt head trauma and stab wounds” late last month. He was 55.

Johnson’s body was discovered Jan. 21 around 7:30 a.m. on the 1300 block of E. 120th Street in Willowbrook, a community in South Central between Compton and Watts, along a gray, graffiti-tagged tributary of the concrete-lined Los Angeles River often seen in movies.

Johnson, a native of Los Angeles, had suffered from health issues and had been living at the encampment, according to his family. They speculated he may have suffered from CTE.

Four homeless people have been murdered in the vicinity since October, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said in a release.

“Investigators are working to determine whether these cases are related,” the statement read. “Homicide investigators continue to pursue all investigative leads and remain committed to identifying the individual or individuals responsible for these crimes.”

Five days after Johnson’s murder, Maura Alfaro, another man in his 50s, was killed by blunt force and found on a nearby flood-control channel.

The string of murders began Oct. 5 when a 52-year-old woman, Michelle Steele, was discovered shot in the head but still breathing. She was transported to a hospital but died Nov. 12.

The next killing was Dec. 4, when 52-year-old Octavio Arias died of head and neck trauma after being attacked.

Police are working to determine a possible motive for the homicides. They told KABC-TV (ABC7) they have nothing definitive connecting the crimes, though at least three attacks have a similar M.O. and all four victims were unhoused residents of the area.

Detectives are exploring whether drug and gang activity have played a role or if homeless people are being specifically targeted, ABC7 reported. Most people living in the encampment have been uncooperative with the investigation.

County workers have attempted to move the homeless population out of that area and into housing facilities, but it has been a difficult task.

Johnson was drafted 86th overall out of Texas Southern by the New England Patriots in 1993. He toiled on practice squads for his first three seasons before landing with the Eagles, where he proved himself a solid rotational player.

He appeared in 23 regular-season games here as a defensive tackle in 1995 and 1996 under then-coach Ray Rhodes, recording 43 tackles, seven sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a 37-yard touchdown. He also appeared in three playoff games.

Johnson then spent a season with the Oakland Raiders before a four-year stretch in the Arena Football League, where he played on both sides of the line and helped the Orlando Predators win an ArenaBowl championship in 1998.

Branden Johnson, Kevin’s son, remembers his dad as a “loving, caring, and truly joyful man whose presence brought warmth to everyone around him.”

“My father’s death is a heartbreaking tragedy, especially because he was a constant presence in my life,” Branden expressed in a statement. “There was not a single day he didn’t call to check on me —asking if I worked out, if I prayed, how his granddaughter was doing, and reminding me how much he loved me and how proud he was. The absence of those daily calls has created an indescribable silence.

“He had a rare gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and appreciated, never judging and always looking out for others. Even through life’s difficulties, he held happiness in his heart and shared it freely with those he loved. My dad was selfless, loyal, and deeply cherished. His absence leaves a huge void, but his love, laughter, and spirit will live on through everyone whose life he touched.”

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

For The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/3mwnexfn

If the Eagles were going to choose a first-time play caller as their new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion was the guy.

He may be balding with a dad bod, but the 33-year-old who looks 53 is widely considered one of the young up-and-comers on offense in the NFL.

Whether the former quarterback pans out as an OC remains to be seen, but no one can accuse the Eagles of not doing their homework or lacking progressive thinking with this hire.

Mannion has spent his only two seasons as a coach — that’s right, just two seasons — working with QB Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers under head coach Matt LaFleur, who comes from the innovative offensive school of Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Kevin O’Connell and Mike McDaniel.

Love, with Mannion as quarterbacks coach in 2025, threw for 3,381 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. His 1.4% interception rate was the lowest of his career, while his 66.3 completion percentage was his best since becoming a full-time starter.

“I’m thrilled to have Sean Mannion on board as the new offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles,” head coach Nick Sirianni said in a team statement Thursday. “My goal throughout this process was to operate with an open mind regarding the future of our offense to find the best fit for the Eagles.

“Over the last few weeks, I had an opportunity to meet with a number of talented candidates and great offensive minds. I am appreciative of the time I was able to spend with each of them. Some came with years of experience running an offense and calling plays. Others were young, sharp, and dynamic coaches on the rise. I felt it was important to be patient and thorough to allow the right fit to reveal himself to us. Sean did just that.”

Mannion, during his nine-year NFL career as a backup quarterback, worked directly under McVay in Los Angeles, O’Connell in Minnesota and Dave Canales in Seattle. (Canales is now the Carolina Panthers’ head coach and just led the franchise to its first playoff berth in eight years.)

Zac Taylor, the head coach in Cincinnati, beloved by quarterback Joe Burrow, was Mannion’s QB coach for a season with the Rams. And Klint Kubiak, now the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-bound Seahawks, mentored him in Minneapolis.

Mannion’s plucking by the Eagles is reminiscent of when they hired Andy Reid, who was quarterbacks coach in Green Bay under Mike Holmgren, a direct descendant of the Bill Walsh coaching tree. Kyle Shanahan’s father, Mike, succeeded Holmgren as OC in San Francisco.

All those names and legacies sound sparkling and fantastic, but Mannion has yet to prove himself as an offensive coordinator. He replaces Kevin Patullo, who flailed as a first-year play caller, after beating out finalists that included the Colts’ Jim Bob Cooter (yes, that guy, who was here in 2021 as a consultant and sounds like a character from “The Dukes of Hazzard”), former Tampa Bay OC Josh Grizzard and Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson.

McDaniel, the Eagles’ top choice, spurned them to become O-coordinator with the Chargers. Their other leading target, Brian Daboll, took the OC position with the Titans.

Mannion was drafted by the Rams in the third round (89th overall) in 2015 out of Oregon State, the fourth quarterback off the board in a draft where Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota went first and second.

He was selected 14 slots behind Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson, a short-lived NFL backup whom most people have never heard of. Mannion, whom most people also have never heard of, played in 14 games with three starts over parts of nine seasons with the Rams, Vikings and Seahawks.

“It was quickly apparent in meeting with Sean that he is a bright young coach with a tremendous future ahead of him in this league,” Sirianni stated. “I was impressed by his systematic views on offensive football and his strategic approach.

“Sean’s 11 years in the NFL have provided him a great opportunity to learn from and grow alongside some of the best coaches in the game. As a result, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to our team moving forward. I can’t wait to see Sean with our team, and I want to welcome him and his wife, Megan, to the Eagles family.”

What to expect

Mannion could prove to be a much-needed shakeup for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, putting him under center more often, incorporating more pre-snap motion and reads, and finding quick ways to get the ball to dynamic playmakers such as A.J. Brown (if he’s still here) and DeVonta Smith.

Mannion comes from a developmental mindset that challenges QBs’ comfort levels while also being adaptive to their individual talents. And he may experiment with some zone-based run concepts and ways to stretch defenses horizontally as well as vertically.

McVay, when Mannion was a player, referred to him as “hyper-detailed” and a “coach in the quarterback room” who was heavily involved in breaking down coverages and weekly game planning.

Overall, based on his pedigree, Mannion appears to be a creative mind whose offense should unfold as a narrative rather than simply throwing plays at a wall and seeing what sticks.

Remaining questions

How much autonomy will Mannion have? How much will Sirianni be involved? It’s hard to believe Mannion would have accepted the job without some assurances.

He didn’t come here to be a figurehead. That’s not what the Eagles need anyway.

Also, what is the future of iconic offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland? He was stripped of his run-game duties midseason, according to recent reports — which is stunning, given his résumé and the extensive injuries to the line in 2025.

It also bears noting that Stoutland has traditionally been resistant to heavy pre-snap motion because he views it as added stress on the offensive linemen.

Finally, for all the upside Mannion promises, the most obvious question of all: Is he the real deal?

UPDATE: The Eagles hired Josh Grizzard, 35, as pass game coordinator on Friday. Grizzard worked under Mike McDaniel in Miami and Liam Coen in Tampa Bay.

Coen, a former McVay assistant in Los Angeles, took over as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025 — flipping their record from 4-13 a year earlier to 13-4 and ending a three-year playoff drought.

Grizzard, a Yale grad from central North Carolina, took over for Coen as offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers this past season. But he was fired after the injury-riddled Bucs, who began 6-2 and atop the NFC South, lost seven of their last nine games and missed the playoffs.

—

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc for the latest updates.

From The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/5azbr6u4

The term “CEO head coach,” which is a head coach who doesn’t call plays on either side of the ball, has often been used as a backhanded slight to marginalize coaches’ accomplishments. Exhibit A: Nick Sirianni.

Never mind that Sirianni has led the Eagles to the playoffs in each of the five years he’s been here, including three NFC East titles, two Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl championship.

Never mind that his .694 regular-season winning percentage (59-26) ranks fifth all time among coaches in their first five NFL seasons. Or that his 65 total wins through five years are tied for third with fellow CEO head coach Don Shula — behind only George Seifert (68) and Tony Dungy (67).

Critics claim it was his assistants and talented rosters that were responsible for all the success, not Sirianni, as if his role was somehow peripheral. As if any head coach can win without talent and a good staff.

Sirianni’s public persona hasn’t helped. He lacked name recognition when he arrived in Philadelphia, and his awkward early press conferences, clichéd slogans, demonstrative sideline antics — including jawing with fans — and generally emotional demeanor don’t fit the stereotype of a commanding figure.

He comes across as more of a hype man than a head coach. There seems to be a disconnect between his tone and his top-tier résumé.

But public perception often isn’t reality. Sirianni is highly respected in the locker room. His players want him to be himself. And former players, including Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox, regularly show up at the facility to hang with him and help out.

Plus, Sirianni’s results speak for themselves. Isn’t that what matters?

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman: “I feel incredibly grateful that I’m working with someone who, as a head coach, is elite at being a head coach, elite at building connections with our team, elite at talking about fundamentals, game management, situational awareness, bringing the team together, holding people accountable. When you’re looking for a head coach, those are really the job descriptions.”

A pair of CEO head coaches — the Patriots’ Mike Vrabel and Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald, both of whom have defensive backgrounds — are about to meet in the Super Bowl. John Harbaugh, who was the most sought-after coach in this cycle before the Giants hired him, is also a CEO head coach. He made his bones as a special teams coordinator with the Eagles before taking over the top job in Baltimore for 18 years.

The fact is, most NFL and college head coaches — from Bill Belichick to Nick Saban — are CEO head coaches. Their most important job is to create and maintain the culture, which is the paramount difference between winning and losing.

The key is to hire the right staff and empower them to do their jobs. That starts with the coordinators, an area where Sirianni and Roseman have occasionally tripped up, whether it was Brian Johnson or Kevin Patullo on offense or Sean Desai or Matt Patricia on defense.

If you can land an offensive wizard like the Rams’ Sean McVay or the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan as your head coach, it’s a bonus. It provides continuity for the quarterback and that entire side of the ball each year. But guys who can sustain success pulling double-duty are few and far between.

Even Andy Reid eventually handed off play calling in Kansas City, though he’s still the architect of the offense and a quarterback whisperer, and remains very involved.

Ideally, Sirianni could take over as play caller when needed. But even with his offensive background, he didn’t have widely recognized gravitas as a coordinator or QB coach before becoming a head coach — another strike against him, according to his detractors.

Can he right the ship when things go sideways? He couldn’t when the team collapsed in 2023, and he couldn’t in 2025. But he’s not the first successful head coach to have disappointing seasons. And for Sirianni, disappointment in each of those years still meant 11 wins and reaching the playoffs.

Fortune 500 companies, from Berkshire Hathaway to Alphabet/Google to Nvidia, all may share some guiding principles, but their CEOs and culture don’t all succeed the same way. Some run their organizations like buttoned-up boardrooms, some with a mom-and-pop feel, and others wearing sneakers and shorts with their feet kicked up around a sofa after letting off steam playing air hockey.

Philly isn’t just a tough town; people here are emotive and blunt. Annual expectations for the Eagles, both inside and outside the building, are as high as it gets. Fans are deeply invested and reactionary. The media are loud and unrelenting. Coaches and players need a thick skin. This place isn’t for everybody.

But Sirianni, as a CEO with his own style, has proven he can consistently win here — and win the big one.

Kasper elevated

The Eagles promoted safeties coach Joe Kasper to defensive backs coach and pass-game coordinator this week. He replaces Christian Parker, who accepted the defensive coordinator job with the Cowboys.

Kasper was the Eagles’ defensive quality control coach in 2021 and 2022 before joining Vic Fangio in Miami to become the Dolphins’ safeties coach in 2023. He came back to Philadelphia in 2024 when Fangio was hired as defensive coordinator.

Puzzling moves in D.C.

Why did the NFC East Washington Commanders part ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.?

Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels — and, in fact, much of the roster — was derailed by injuries most of the 2025 season. How is that the coordinators’ fault?

A year earlier, Daniels was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year under Kingsbury and the Commanders reached the NFC Championship game.

CFP expansion absurdity

Indiana University — a storied basketball school representing a legendary basketball state — has become a football school in the span of two years after toiling as the losingest football program in college history.

Under CEO head coach Curt Cignetti, with lovable Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza — 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, humble yet confident, who can make all the throws and process all the smart reads, who can run and also lower his shoulder, who’s willing to bloody himself, with a business degree from Berkeley and an ongoing MBA from IU — the undefeated Hoosiers were one of the most remarkable stories in sports history.

In the playoffs, they trampled Alabama and Oregon before hanging on to beat Miami in the national title game. This after capping a phenomenal regular season by defeating No. 1 Ohio State.

Indiana finished a historic 16-0.

Now, the playoff committee and other greedy slobs who run college football — perpetually incapable of getting their act together or considering the integrity of the sport — are discussing expanding the field from 12 to either 16 teams or 24.

Why should the regular season matter at all?

Hell, why not make it 68 teams? As if basketball and football are the same sport. As if James Madison and Tulane could actually be Cinderellas in football (which everyone just saw they can’t).

In fact, why not make football a 128-team playoff? At least that way it would come full-circle, with college football’s regular season being the de-facto playoff, because every game would once again matter every week.

Serious Phillies questions

First of all, why did the Phillies let 30-year-old lefthander and big-game starter Ranger Suárez walk away to Boston (five years, $130 million) in free agency, like he was nothing?

Suárez was 4-1 in 11 postseason appearances with a 1.48 earned run average. In 4 1/2 years as a regular-season starter, he was 46-34 with a 3.25 ERA.

Second, why didn’t they come back with a decent counteroffer for spark plug outfielder Harrison Bader, a gritty and dynamic presence who clearly wanted to be here long-term and cited his two months in Philly as his best experience as a professional baseball player?

Bader — whom the Phillies acquired at last year’s trade deadline to play center field — declined a $10 million, one-year option in the offseason, and the Phillies immediately decided to move on. He eventually signed with San Francisco for two years, $20.5 million plus incentives. The Phillies couldn’t afford that price after offering him one for 10? Really?

Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, said he expects highly touted prospect Justin Crawford to at some point compete for the starting job in center field. OK. Yet Dombrowski also mentioned continuing to platoon Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp in left — with Johan Rojas somehow still having a role in the outfield — in 2026.

What?

Third, why was re-signing catcher J.T. Realmuto — whom this pitching staff implicitly trusts and who also provides some pop on offense — contingent upon whether the team landed All-Star infielder Bo Bichette?

The Phils inked Realmuto, 34, for three years at $15 million per, within hours of the Bichette sweepstakes falling through. Are fans expected to believe the organization couldn’t afford both players?

The division-rival Mets gave opt-outs to Bichette after year one and year two on a three-year, $126 million contract. The Phillies declined offering such opt-outs, which is definitely arguable. Yet they also declined to officialize a seven-year, $200 million deal with the 27-year-old Bichette.

Where is the creativity by the front office? And is majority owner John Middleton truly committed to another World Series championship?

As of today, the Phillies’ projected payroll is fourth-highest in Major League Baseball, between $280 million and $311 million. That’s a lot. But their projected revenue is between $519 and $528 million, comfortably in the top five.

The Phillies aren’t all in on winning. Why should fans be all in on the Phillies?

Christiaan DeFranco covers the Eagles, Phillies and other sports for MediaNews Group. Follow him on X at @the_defranc for the latest updates.