The Philadelphia Eagles are moving on from offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, putting pressure on head coach Nick Sirianni to remake a coaching staff that oversaw one of the most disappointing collapses in recent NFL history.
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ESPN reported that Johnson would not return as Philadelphia's offensive coordinator on Tuesday morning.
Johnson's offense surpassed 30 points just twice over the final six weeks of the regular season and was held to just nine points by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Eagles' season-ending loss in the NFC Wild Card round.
Meanwhile, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts seemed to regress in 2023, never quite appearing to be on the same page with Johnson, en route to throwing a career-high 15 interceptions just one season removed from playing his way into the MVP conversation and Philadelphia into a Super Bowl. Philadelphia slipped from ninth in passing yards in 2022 to 16th in the league this past season, Johnson's lone season as Eagles offensive coordinator.
Sirianni undoubtedly enters the 2024 season on the hot seat, and his coordinator hires could hold a key to stabilizing his job security after a dreadful 1-6 finish to the 2023 campaign.
Here's a look at five top candidates, including a dark horse possibility, for Sirianni and the Eagles to replace Johnson as offensive coordinator.
Frank Reich
The Eagles' offensive coordinator search likely begins with Reich. Sirianni views Reich as a mentor, and for all of the 62-year-old's warts as a head coach in Indianapolis and Carolina, he has a reputation as an astute play-caller. Likewise, Roseman and Lurie are only six years removed from witnessing first-hand Reich's influence over Doug Pederson's game-planning en route to a Super Bowl championship. If Philadelphia's goal is to surround Sirianni with veteran coordinators with head coaching experience that he can rely on should adversity strike in 2024, Reich could be the organization's first call.
Kliff Kingsbury
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Another former head coach with a wealth of experience on the offensive side of the ball is Kliff Kingsbury. The former Cardinals and Texas Tech head coach posted a 26-33-1 record as an NFL head coach, with one playoff berth during those four seasons. Arizona finished in the top-10 in total offense twice during Kingsbury's tenure, and his reliance on stretching the field in the passing game might be an ideal fit for the Eagles' dynamic receiving duo in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Likewise, during his career, Kingsbury developed a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, and might be exactly what the Eagles need to get Jalen Hurts back on track, after what devolved into a frustrating 2023 season.
Josh McDaniels
The Eagles previously interviewed Josh McDaniels in 2021 before ultimately hiring Sirianni, and while McDaniels has flamed out as a head coach in both of his opportunities, he remains an astute offensive mind and top-tier coordinator. It's entirely possible that Sirianni, Roseman, and the Eagles could sour on McDaniels because of his ties to the New England Patriots and the way Philadelphia's defense collapsed with Matt Patricia calling plays down the stretch, but that would be a mistake. McDaniels brought out the best in Mac Jones, with the Patriots quarterback passing for a career-high 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns to 13 interceptions as a rookie in 2021, and his track record of leading productive offenses. The Eagles' personnel of skill players would be the most experienced McDaniels has worked with, since his time calling plays for Tom Brady, and his past experience would be an asset to Sirianni's staff.
Zac Robinson
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Sean McVay's influence remains a coveted commodity across the NFL, and might be exactly what the Eagles need to turn around the fortunes of an offense that came off the rails in the second half of last season. Robinson will be a popular name among new head coaches with offensive coordinator vacancies to fill this hiring cycle. With experience on McVay and Kyle Shanahan's staffs, the schematic concepts Robinson has been exposed to during his career are among the most successful across the NFL in recent seasons. This past season, the Rams finished with the NFL's No. 7 ranked total offense, including averaging 239 passing yards per game, 10th most in the league. Robinson has been instrumental in Matthew Stafford's resurgence, and his concepts might hold the key to getting the most out of Jalen Hurts and his strong supporting cast.
Lunda Wells
Wells is a dark horse candidate, but is widely viewed as a rising star in the coaching community. Having worked under the likes of Tom Coughlin, Mike McCarthy, and alongside Dan Quinn, Wells has built up a wealth of experience and knowledge of how to call an offense and exploit NFL defenses. Not only was Wells instrumental in the development of Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, during his time with the New York Giants, but Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson had the most prolific seasons of their careers under Wells with the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to his experience coaching tight ends, Wells also spent time as an assistant offensive line coach with the Giants. Hiring Wells would also give the Eagles accompanying knowledge of the inner workings of the Cowboys' offense.
