The search for a new offensive coordinator is officially on after news leaked of the Philadelphia Eagles handing Brian Johnson his pink slip. Multiple reports indicated that Nick Sirianni will return as head coach and he’ll hold a joint end-of-season press conference on January 24 alongside Howie Roseman.
Nick Sirianni’s dismissal had been rumored following an epic collapse to close out the 2023 campaign, including an embarrassing 32-9 playoff loss. The front office, specifically owner Jeffrey Lurie, appeared to be fuming from the owner’s box as the minutes ticked down in Tampa Bay. A coaching change at the top seemed entirely possible until it wasn’t.
5 possible Offensive Coordinator candidates for the Eagles
Now it’ll be up to Sirianni to fix the broken Eagles on the fly while turning over every stone in his quest to find a new offensive coordinator. Let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing names out there:
Jerrod Johnson
The 35-year-old assistant has been credited for unleashing the presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud on the NFL in 2023. Johnson, who spent three weeks on the Eagles’ roster as a player in 2011, is considered a “rising star” with several teams clamoring for his service. His work with Stroud speaks for itself: 4,108 yards, a 23:5 TD-INT ratio, and a 100.8 passer rating. The question will be whether he can successfully call plays and implement an offensive scheme, two things he has never done in his short NFL coaching career.
Frank Reich
Yes, Nick Sirianni’s mentor remains unemployed despite one grain-of-salt report that the Eagles have reached out to him. Reich would certainly check a lot of boxes — fan-favorite coach, Super Bowl champion, familiarity with the organization, smart offensive play-caller — but does he want to coach in 2024? He has gone on record saying that Carolina was probably “the final chapter of my NFL journey.”
Tee Martin
The former college standout at Tennessee is wrapping up his first year as the quarterbacks coach in Baltimore where he helped put Lamar Jackson back in the MVP conversation. Sure, Martin was baking with exceptional ingredients but his ability to keep the three-time Pro Bowler “disciplined in his progressions” is a huge selling point. Another one is his experience in all aspects of the offense, highlighted by his long history of coaching wide receivers. That’s how Nick Sirianni cut his teeth as well.
Nick Foles
You want an off-the-radar, Messiah-like candidate? Here you go. The last anyone heard from the one-time Super Bowl MVP he was (predictably?) winning gold medals in pickleball tournaments. While Foles has talked openly about becoming a pastor, the Eagles legend did once admit he might be interested in coaching: “I love helping young players out, teaching them the game, teaching them about life.” Imagine the architect of the Philly Special designing gameplans and calling the offensive plays. Two words: Big Energy.
Mark Brunell
Former quarterbacks and quarterback coaches are the most rumored candidates on this list. That’s just the way it is. Those guys tend to see the game differently and bring a fresh perspective. Quarterbacks know offenses — and Mark Brunell knows how to win. He’s done it at every level. The three-time Pro Bowler is currently quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions where he miraculously raised Jared Goff from the dead. Brunell is a football lifer who has backed up immortals (see: Drew Brees, Brett Favre) over almost four decades in the game. Fun fact: the Eagles offered him a contract in 1994.
Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire
