The Philadelphia Eagles have had a difficult season thus far but still, control their own destiny in the weak NFC East.
The format is simple for Philadelphia, win the next four straight — all divisional opponents — and host a Wild Card one month from now. Even with a playoff run, the Eagles will most certainly make changes to personnel and the coaching staff.
On Monday, ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen was a guest on SportsCenter and had this to say about the Eagles.
“Barring a run in the playoffs, I would say there’s going to be some significant changes on the Philadelphia staff.”
Mortensen was simply making a hypothesis, as there’s been no indication from inside the organization that any changes are coming.
Philadelphia is now 5-7 after a loss to 3-9 Miami Dolphins, a game in which the Eagles stopped running the ball after taking a 28-14 lead. With the Eagles signing Carson Wentz to a longterm deal and the franchise focused on returning to the Super Bowl, here are 7 potential replacements at offensive coordinator if the team moves on from Mike Groh.
***
1. Duce Staley — Eagles assistant head coach
Staley is currently the Eagles running backs coach and also the assistant head coach. Staley, the fifth-leading rusher in franchise history, knows the franchise, has been around some creative offensive play-callers and would have no problem holding quarterback Carson Wentz accountable.
Pederson previously promoted Mike Groh to offensive coordinator, in part because Groh was more involved with the passing game daily.
2. James Urban — Ravens QB Coach
Urban is currently Lamar Jackson’s quarterback’s coach in Baltimore and that alone should get him access to an interview.
Jackson, the front-runner for league MVP, has thrown for 2,258 yards and ran for 781 yards.
If it sounds familiar, that’s because Urban had the same player development success in his role as quarterbacks coach under Andy Reid in Philadelphia. Urban has been credited with Michael Vick’s career season in 2010.
Urban was hired during Jackson’s rookie season with the Ravens and has been credited with his jump in development from last season. He was the Bengals wide receivers coach during AJ Green’s most successful seasons and during his five seasons with then-Eagles head coach Andy Reid, he was responsible for improved play from both Vick and Donovan McNabb.
3. Mike Kafka — Chiefs QB coach
A former Northwestern star quarterback, Kafka is currently the quarterback coach for the Chiefs and a former fourth-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kafka’s resume currently reads that he’s the position coach for the reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. Kafka studied under Doug Pederson (offensive quality control coach/quarterbacks coach) and Andy Reid (head coach) and would be an instant upgrade to Groh.
Add in the versatility and efficiency of the Chiefs offense, and Kafka is definitely a name to watch out for.
4. Press Taylor — Eagles QB coach
Taylor is currently Carson Wentz’s quarterback coach and that alone could disqualify him from consideration. Wentz has regressed some as a passer, and the questions have to be asked how much Taylor’s coaching or lack thereof plays a part in that. Taylor has already been named one of the young coaches in the NFL to watch and his brother of Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. The younger Taylor brother has garnered rave reviews for his meticulous notes and attention to detail.
5. Jay Gruden — unemployed
You can let the jokes fly all you want, but the younger Gruden bother knows a thing or two about calling successful plays. Gruden didn’t win a lot in DC, but during his three-year stint with the Bengals as offensive coordinator, Cincinnati was top 15 in total yards and points per game each season.
During his stint as the Redskins head coach, Gruden produced numbers and explosive offenses with seven different quarterbacks. Washinton was second in yards in 2016 and ninth in touchdown passes in 2017.
6. Joe Brady — LSU
Brady is the hot name in football after turning Joe Burrows from Ohio State transfer to the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Last season, Burrows first as a starter at LSU, he passed for 2,894 yards, with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games. With Joe Brady as the Tigers passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach, Burrow is the Heisman front-runner, has LSU in contention for a National title while passing for 4,366 yards, with 44 touchdowns and six interceptions.
If you think Brady is strictly a college guy, remember that before heading to Baton Rouge, Brady worked under Sean Payton on the Saints as an offensive assistant for two years.
If the Eagles had an interest, they’d compete with LSU and Texas for his services.
7. Pat Shurmur — Giants head coach
Shurmur has ties to the organization and Andy Reid once again. Currently the Giants head coach, Shurmur could be on his way out the door.
Shurmur’s first stint with the Eagles came in 1999, as he was both the tight ends coach and the offensive line coach. Shurmur was credited with developing tight end Chad Lewis into a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
In 2002, Shurmur was named the team’s quarterback coach and in that role, Shurmur played a part in helping develop Donovan McNabb.
8. Brad Childress — Chicago Bears
Childress is currently on the Chicago Bears coach staff as a senior offensive assistant after previously serving as a senior offensive consultant during the 2018 offseason and training camp as coach Matt Nagy installed his offense.
Childress has over 20 years of NFL coaching experience, spent time on Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City as co-offensive coordinator in 2016 before Childress was promoted to assistant head coach and Matt Nagy to offensive coordinator in 2017.
Childress was the Vikings head coach from 2006 to 2010 and also worked with the Browns, Eagles, and Colts.
Childress has also had success developing quarterbacks, as receive credit for his work with former Eagles great and quarterback Donovan McNabb, who was named to five Pro Bowls during his time with Childress.
