Eagles Firing Coach Nick Sirianni? Five Candidates Who Should Replace Him
A collapse of epic proportions came to a close for the Philadelphia Eagles with an embarrassing 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday at Raymond James Stadium in the NFC Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Philadelphia started the season 10-1 and had an inside track to the NFC East and No. 1 seed in the conference with a second straight Super Bowl appearance in its sights. The Eagles closed the season 1-6, with four of the six losses coming by at least 17 points.
Wholesale changes are expected, and it could begin with head coach Nick Sirianni. Despite making the playoffs in each of his three seasons in Philadelphia and winning the NFC last year, everything is on the table after how Sirianni's team ended the 2023 campaign and no one would be shocked if he's fired in the upcoming days.
Here are five head coach candidates the Eagles should consider if they move on from Sirianni.
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Bill Belichick: Former New England Patriots Head Coach
Bill Belichick should be one of the first calls general manager Howie Roseman makes if Sirianni gets canned.
While Belichick and the New England Patriots struggled in three of their four seasons without Tom Brady, many of the answers the former head coach has been missing are already in place with the Eagles. There's no questioning Philadelphia's talent on both sides of the ball. It needs coaches to get the most out of them as they did last season. The Eagles have one of the best rosters in football, and Belichick is likely looking for a team ready to win immediately.
Few coaches have managed to get the most out of their roster better than Belichick for most of his coaching career. He wouldn't have won six Super Bowls, be second all-time in wins and viewed as one of the greatest head coaches of all time if that wasn't the case.
If Roseman and Belichick can get on the same page with how the team will be run with personnel and on the field, it's a match that should come to fruition.
Mike Vrabel: Former Tennessee Titans Head Coach
If Philadelphia is enamored with Belichick but can't land him, Mike Vrabel would be the next-best thing.
Vrabel is a Belichick disciple, playing for him from 2003-2008 and brought a similar approach in his six seasons as the Tennessee Titans head coach. Vrabel went 54-45 in Tennessee, and made three playoff appearances, including an AFC Championship game appearance in 2019.
Vrabel is similar to Belichick in that his team's struggles had plenty to do with a lack of talent rather than coaching ability. Talent isn't the issue in Philadelphia. It's the lack of discipline and ability to get everyone on the same page.
Many of the issues with discipline or the gaffes on defense wouldn't fly with Vrabel at the helm. If Philadelphia wants to reshape the team's identity with a coach who will have a chance to stay for an extended period, Vrabel should be near the top of Philadelphia's coaching search.
Ben Johnson: Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator
If maximizing quarterback Jalen Hurts is the goal with the Eagles' next coaching search should they move on from Sirianni, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is the guy.
Johnson has revived quarterback Jared Goff's career and orchestrated one of the best offenses in his two seasons as Detroit's offensive coordinator, with the fifth-best scoring offense in 2022 and 2023. Along with the success on offense, the development of receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta are a feather in his cap.
If getting the most out of Hurts and the offense is what Roseman is looking for in his next coach if Sirianni is fired, hiring one of the best candidates in this coaching cycle would be a home run.
Mike Macdonald: Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator
Mike Macdonald is a lot like the defensive version of Johnson. Macdonald led the best defense in football, as the Baltimore Ravens led the league in points per game (16.5) and sacks (60) and was tied for first in turnovers with the New York Giants (31).
The one time Macdonald coached against Johnson, the Ravens defense stuffed the Lions offense into a locker en route to a 38-6 win in Week 7.
The defense has been a travesty for Philadelphia, as it was 30th in points per game (25.2) and allowed over 30 points in five of its last eight games. That's not even including the endless broken tackles down the stretch.
If Philadelphia is going to improve defensively and become a tougher team, Macdonald would fit the bill.
Todd Monken: Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator
Monken is of a similar mold to Johnson, an offensive-minded coach who knows how to get the most out of their quarterback.
In his first season as the Ravens' offensive coordinator, quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for a career-high 3,678 yards plus 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Baltimore also led the league in rushing yards per game (156.5) and was fourth in points per game (28.4).
Even more important than the offense's success was Monken's scheme and ability to improve Jackson as a passer kept him healthy for a full season for the first time since 2020.
While Hurts isn't as dynamic as Jackson, they have a similar skillset with their ability to hurt defenses through the air and on the ground. Monken's work with Jackson this season should put him near the top of Philadelphia's coaching search if it moves on from Sirianni.
