From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/4fm4hsw4
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman signaled Thursday that the next offensive coordinator will have autonomy similar to Vic Fangio’s independent control of the defense.
“I want to be the head football coach, and I think that’s what the team needs,” Sirianni, seated to Roseman’s left, said at the team’s end-of-season joint press conference at NovaCare Complex. “It’s what I think is best for the football team.”
Roseman then went on to praise Sirianni while defining his role, detailing his value while implying he won’t be overly involved in the offense next year.
“He’s shown that when we bring people in that he’s open to doing whatever’s best for this football team, and that all he cares about is winning,” Roseman said. “When he’s brought in people, he’s given them the flexibility to put their own spin on things.
“I sit here and 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 about 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. As you’re building out a coaching staff, you’re talking about being able to do that, being able to have elite play callers on both sides of the ball.”
Kevin Patullo, who was promoted from within and had never called plays, was removed as offensive coordinator Tuesday. He ran an extension of Sirianni’s offense, but the Birds’ attack never found a consistent rhythm and ended up in the bottom third of the league in several statistical categories.
Sirianni became more involved late in the year, but it didn’t seem to help.
The Eagles are seeking an established name as their new OC. Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll are reportedly atop the Eagles’ list of candidates, but the team plans an extensive search
“Our job right now and our thought process right now is to get the best candidate possible, cast a wide net there, interview some of these great candidates that are out there, and find the best guy that fits the Philadelphia Eagles,” Sirianni said.
“You want somebody that has great vision, great conviction on what they do, is able to coach fundamentals well, is able to help the players get better. Somebody that can connect with guys … that has the mental toughness.”
McDaniel previously worked with the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, the Rams’ Sean McVay and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur. Daboll was OC with the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen, and he worked with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for a year in college at Alabama.
Other names that have been floated include ex-Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, ex-Stanford coach David Shaw and Frank Reich, who was OC when the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 under Doug Pederson.
Also in contention are Brian Callahan, who was with the Titans, Kliff Kingsbury (Commanders), Greg Roman (Chargers), Arthur Smith (Steelers), Drew Petzing (Cardinals), Zac Robinson (Falcons), Cam Turner (Colts) and Josh McCown (Vikings).
Todd Monken, who was with the Baltimore Ravens has also been mentioned, but it appears he’s going with John Harbaugh to the New York Giants.
The fact numerous teams are looking for a head coach makes hiring an OC tricky, since some of the candidates will be in the running for head coaching opportunities.
Hurts will be consulted about the hiring, but so will other key players on offense. In other words, Sirianni and Roseman won’t be deferring to the QB.
Whether the new coordinator will be allowed to hire his own offensive staff or will retain all or some of the Eagles’ current staff remains to be seen. Sirianni said it will depend on who the OC is.
Asked why he fired Patullo, Sirianni said, “I think it’s important that we continue to evolve as an offense and that we go out and do what’s best for this football team.”
Pushing Hurts
Hurts has repeatedly said he wants to “grow and evolve,” but he regressed this season. And two reports — from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and NFL broadcaster Derrick Gunn — stated that he often just did his own thing instead of running the offense as designed, knowing he has the Eagles “over a barrel” because his contract makes him virtually untradable due to the salary cap penalty the team would incur.
Growth means an offensive coordinator that doesn’t simply cater to the QB but challenges him, takes him out of his comfort zone and gets him used to doing things he’s not accustomed to — such as operating from under center more often, running more play action, learning more complex route concepts, going through his progressions, making better reads, employing motion, working over the middle of the field and getting rid of the ball quicker.
Hurts must be receptive to hard coaching. Also, if the new OC retains some of the staff, they must be receptive to adapting as well.
Turnstile OCs
Unfortunately for Hurts, when he learns the next offensive system, it will be his sixth in six years as the Eagles’ full-time starter. Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore moved on to head coaching jobs, Brian Johnson and Patullo were either terminated or removed, and Sirianni called plays during part of his first season as coach.
It doesn’t help with continuity, but Roseman said it’s a price the organization is willing to pay if it means the Eagles win Super Bowls.
“It’s a great compliment when guys get head coaching jobs from here because it means we’re having tremendous success,” Roseman said. “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.”
Brown coming back?
When asked if disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown will be traded, Roseman essentially repeated what he said at the trade deadline, when he explained he’s in the business of acquiring talent, not getting rid of it.
“It is hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player,” Roseman said. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency and in the draft is trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy.”
Still, the Eagles will listen to offers.
Lane Johnson’s future
Right tackle Lane Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection who turns 36 in May, has dealt with several injuries in recent years. This season, he didn’t play after Week 11 because of a Lisfranc sprain. It’s possible he has played his last snap in the NFL.
“I think all those conversations that we have of our players are between us and anything they’re doing,” Roseman said. “I’m not saying that negatively or positively, but anyone you ask about, I think that that’s their business to discuss.
“Obviously, you’re talking about a Hall of Fame player who’s been a huge, huge part of any of our success that we’ve had, and when you watch him play, he’s still playing at an elite level.”
Patullo sticking around?
Though Patullo was removed as offensive coordinator, he wasn’t outright fired. He could possibly remain on staff in another capacity.
“We’ll see how it plays out,” Sirianni said. “I know Kevin’s going to have other opportunities, and obviously always want what’s best for Kevin and for his family, so we’ll see how that plays out.
“I love Kevin and everything that he has provided to this coaching staff for his five years here. He’s a big reason why we’ve won a lot of football games.”
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc for the latest updates.