The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to make a change at the offensive coordinator position, with incumbent Kevin Patullo offering little consistency. Patullo took an explosive offense and made it incredibly boring, eliminating nearly all explosive plays from a team stocked with playmakers. Parting ways with Patullo makes sense and opens the door to returning to 2024 dominance.
With this in mind, the Eagles should already be exploring possible upgrades to the position. There should be several established coaches hitting the market, and plenty of those will view the Philly job as an enticing landing spot based on the talent in the trenches and the chance to work with an impressive skill group of playmakers. Leading us to begin by looking at a former head coach and play-caller who perfectly fits what the Eagles need.
1. Brian Daboll: Ex-New York Giants Head Coach
The former New York Giants head coach earned a chance at the role due to helping write Josh Allen's breakout season. Having a coordinator of this pedigree is exactly what Jalen Hurts needs to put the quarterback on track and give Philadelphia's offense a dose of creativity. Daboll's best season with the Bills saw the franchise finish second in points per game, averaging 31.3, which gave the league a reason to believe perhaps there was a team capable of unseating the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs.
While this didn't work out as hoped, Daboll's accomplishments earned the coordinator a chance in New York that predictably went awry. Still, the coach is a proven coordinator and would bring the stability that the Philly offense so badly lacks.
There is also something to be said for having a cooler head at OC to help balance out head coach Nick Sirianni's hot nature. Daboll would be a settling hire that pushes Philadelphia's offense back towards consistency and gives the fan base a much-needed win.
2. J.T. Barrett: Chicago Bears' QB Coach
The league is growing increasingly fascinated with hiring head coaches and coordinators at a young age. Barrett unquestionably qualifies, having been in the league as recently as the 2019 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad. After failing to achieve a long-term career as a backup quarterback, the Ohio State product turned to coaching and was a part of Ben Johnson's offensive staff with the Detroit Lions before following him to Chicago to become the quarterbacks coach for the Bears.
Caleb Williams had a breakout season under the guidance of Barrett, and the Bears have continued to find offensive magic, advancing to the second round of the playoffs. If the Eagles want to consider a younger hire and not opt to go with an aging coach, it makes sense to at least interview Barrett and attempt to bring in a piece of Johnson's leadership.
The Bears averaged 26.2 points per game, making Chicago a top-10 offense, with much of this due to the emergence of Williams. Both Barrett and the current offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, are likely to garner league-wide interest, and the Eagles should unquestionably be a part of this list.
3. Eric Bieniemy: Chicago Bears RB Coach
The Eagles are in a unique position. While they are just one year removed from winning the Super Bowl, there are moments where it seems the roster appears to hate playing together. Whether it is the yelling on the sidelines or the lack of offensive cohesiveness, there is an argument that what Philadelphia needs is an already established coach. This is why both Daboll and former Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy make sense as potential hires.
Bieniemy has dealt with the pressures of a Super Bowl roster that perhaps has let contentment set in. Now, the coach is a part of Chicago's coaching staff, working with the Bears as the running backs coach. It makes sense to explore hiring Bieniemy for a position he is familiar with, as it'd signal Philadelphia is adding a coach who isn't going to hesitate to hold players accountable.
With this in mind, the Eagles should at least interview Bieniemy based on the experience and skill set that clearly fit Philadelphia's roster. The only potential concern is that Andy Reid never gave up full control of the offense in Kansas City during their time together, leaving what the coach can do with a talented group a bit of a mystery.