The Philadelphia Eagles' weeks-long pursuit of a new offensive coordinator finally came to an end on Thursday. Head coach Nick Sirianni has hired former Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Mannion to serve as his OC, making it interesting to see if he's the right man to undo Kevin Patullo's mistakes.
Mannion doesn't have that much coaching experience at just 33 years old. It's been less than three years since he retired from his quarterback days, having joined the Packers as an offensive assistant in 2024 and then as their QBs coach last season.
Still, Mannion has drawn rave reviews as a great offensive mind and even better person. Yet, there are legitimate concerns about the fact that he had never called plays or been an offensive coordinator.
That's why the Eagles were wise to address those concerns right away by hiring the right man to lend him a hand.
Eagles Hire Josh Grizzard to Address Sean Mannion's OC Inexperience
On Friday morning, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles "are hiring former (Tampa Bay) Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard as their pass game coordinator." The 35-year-old coach has nearly a decade of experience in the NFL ranks, which could make up for what Mannion lacks.
All reports about Mannion are good. Everybody's impressed by his quick learning and fresh input, so he will probably do just fine. However, having an experienced play-caller like Grizzard will certainly help mitigate the risk.
Schefter also reported that Sirianni could call plays on offense if the Eagles didn't find a suitable offensive coordinator. With a first-timer in town, he will probably have a strong input in the offense and the decision-making process, giving Philadelphia a three-headed braintrust to shape the unit.
Everybody has to start somewhere. Mannion's ascent and reputation in the league are not a coincidence, and as a former quarterback himself, he will probably be fine. Also, he spent time with the likes of Kevin O'Connell and Mike LaFleur, so he must've learned a trick or two.
That being said, there will be no room for error in Philadelphia. The Eagles can't afford to go through the same struggles after the Patullo debacle. This roster is just too talented, and this team desperately needs a change.
The Buccaneers' offense was perfect under Mannion's watch, but it still outperformed the Eagles' unit in several facets, including:
Team | Points per game | Total yards per game | Passing yards per game | Third-down conversion rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 22.4 | 320.4 | 205.9 | 41.2% |
Eagles | 22.3 | 311.2 | 194.3 | 37.1% |
On top of the possible team-wide impact that Grizzard could have, quarterback Jalen Hurts won't have any more room for excuses. He'll have a former offensive coordinator, Grizzard, working closely with him, all while a former signal-caller, Mannion, will run his plays and build the offense around his strengths.
Hurts has earned his stripes because of his numbers and accolades, but he's also held the offense back a couple of times. Hopefully, Grizzard's hiring and how it helps Mannion's inexperience as an OC will be just what Hurts needs to get his game to the next level.