Philadelphia Eagles: 7 head coaching candidates to watch

The Philadelphia Eagles are once again looking for a new head coach.

After five seasons and only three removed from the franchise’s first Super Bowl, Philadelphia  Eagles head coach Doug Pederson was fired after a four-win season.

Pederson’s career with Eagles went from being an underwhelming hire, to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, to back-to-back disappointing seasons that featured the regression of franchise quarterback Carson Wentz.

Given what we’ve learned about Pederson’s firing and the reports that have come out of Philadelphia in the last 24 hours, we have a good idea of what owner Jeffrey Lurie wants in his next head coach. He’s looking for the next quarterback guru to be on his coaching staff, someone who brings fresh ideas, and someone who can energize the city.

Here are some candidates to keep an eye on during the offseason.

Todd Bowles – Buccaneers DC/Former Jets HC/Eagles Assistant

The Todd Bowles connection was brought up early in media reports, given Bowles’ connection to Philadelphia. He’s from New Jersey, played at Temple, and was the Eagles’ Interim defensive coordinator & secondary coach in 2012.

Two years after working in Philadelphia, Bowles was the defensive coordinator in Arizona and later became the New York Jets head coach.  After a 10 win season in 2015, the Bowles-led Jets won just 14 games in their next three seasons combined.

Since being fired by the Jets, Bowles has been the Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians, who he held the same job under in Arizona.

This season under Bowles, the Buccaneers have been a top-10 defense, holding offenses to 5.1 yards to play, 355 points allowed, and a league-best 10 rushing touchdowns.

While Bowles has been interviewed for head coaching jobs this offseason, the Eagles don’t appear likely to hire a defensive-minded head coach. Lurie has historically favored offensive-minded head coaches, hiring Andy Reid, Chip Kelly, and Pederson, and the goal of this offseason appears to be fixing Carson Wentz.

Unless Bowles can bring a big name as his offensive coordinator, the possibility of him or another defensive-minded head coach is unlikely this year. However, he does come from the Andy Reid coaching tree, something Lurie values in a coach. I wouldn’t rule out Bowles getting an interview with the Eagles, but I don’t think it’s likely they go this route.