The Philadelphia Eagles' coaching staff just took a massive blow. Renowned offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland has announced that he will step down from his position after 13 years, via ESPN's Tim McManus.
"Philadelphia, I've decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end. When I arrived here in 2013, I did not know what I was signing up for. I quickly learned what this city demands. But more importantly, what it gives back. The past 13 years have been the great privilege of my coaching career. I didn't just work here, I became one of you. Stout out."Jeff Stoutland
The legendary offensive line guru will reportedly continue coaching, but it seems he didn't want to be part of head coach Nick Sirianni's staff anymore. The offensive line regressed last season, but Stoudland is still a well-respected and beloved figure, and the chances of finding an upgrade at this point in the offseason are slim to none.
More than that, losing Stoutland might also throw a wrench into the team's offseason plans. With him no longer in the picture, a potential reinforcement like Mekhi Becton might think twice before heading back to Philadelphia.
Mekhi Becton May Not Want to Return to Philadelphia Without Jeff Stoutland
Becton looked like a no-brainer candidate to return to the City of Brotherly Love. He didn't perform that well with the Los Angeles Chargers, and he was vocal about his disappointment at being benched.
The former New York Jets draft pick was at his best in his brief stint with the Eagles. He was instrumental in building the most physical and hard-hitting offensive line in the game, and his massive frame as an oversized guard opened up plenty of running games for running back Saquon Barkley.
Still, while the players deserve most of the credit, Stoutland was there to scheme out the running game, establish run-blocking schemes, and make sure that the unit gave quarterback Jalen Hurts a clean pocket on every dropback.
With Stoutland no longer in the picture, Becton may want to consider other options. He would've been a no-brainer pickup, and given his recent struggles, he would've probably been available at a major discount for general manager Howie Roseman.
The Eagles' offensive coaching staff is experiencing some major changes. They just hired former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion to be their next offensive coordinator. Even though everybody has had great things to say about him, it still feels like they just settled on Mannion because nobody else wanted the job.
Interestingly enough, Mannion's hiring may have played a role in Stoutland's exit, thus hurting the chances of a Becton return.
"Mannion is slated to install a new scheme that will pull from the Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan systems. Given that Stoutland doesn't have a history with that offense, he would have needed someone to bring him up to speed on the new system, a source noted."Tim McManus, ESPN
As great as it would been to see Becton protecting Hurts again next season, it's hard to imagine that happening after Stoudland's exit. Hopefully, the Eagles can avoid any more coaching controversies this offseason, as another one could force the front office to take a long look in the mirror.