Eagles Offensive Coordinator Candidates: 5 Names to Watch if Nick Sirianni Stays
Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has -- with the help of general manager Howie Roseman -- been "reaching out" to candidates to potentially join his staff in 2024, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. That doesn't mean, per Russini, that he will 100% return as coach in 2024, following a disastrous finish to his third season on the job. But at the very least, he's going to be given an opportunity to make his case.
On the defensive side of the ball, Sean Desai still has the title of defensive coordinator, but was stripped of play-calling duties on that side of the ball in mid-December, a panic move that felt like it came with the influence of someone above Sirianni. Desai's defense wasn't good. Matt Patricia's defense was an unmitigated disaster. It's safe to assume that one way or another, the Eagles will have a new defensive coordinator in 2024.
© Mykal McEldowney, IndyStar
The picture offensively is a little less clear. On one hand, Brian Johnson presided over an uncreative offense that felt overly reliant on screens and quarterback draws. On the other hand, he seemingly did a good job as quarterbacks coach the two prior seasons helping to develop Jalen Hurts, and it's unclear exactly how much autonomy he had working under Sirianni. But despite receiving some coaching interview requests this cycle, it's hard to imagine Sirianni convincing Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie to give him a fourth season if his plan is to run it back with Johnson at offensive coordinator. And so, while we're sure Johnson will land on his feet somewhere quickly, he'll probably be thrown overboard in the coming days as well.
Sirianni, of course, does have an offensive background. But he didn't call plays in three years as offensive coordinator under coach Frank Reich with the Indianapolis Colts, and struggled early on in 2021 to do so for the Eagles, before handing duties off to Shane Steichen. It's possible if Sirianni is going into a do-or-die season on the job in 2024, he'll want to go down swinging himself as the offensive play caller. But he has to make it to 2024, and his best path to doing that is bringing in a promising offensive play caller as the coordinator.
Here are five candidates that could potentially be the next offensive coordinator for the Eagles, assuming Sirianni is back as coach.
Frank Reich: Former Head Coach, Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers
This would be the most obvious choice. Reich was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles in 2016 and 2017, helping the organization win its first-ever Super Bowl title before becoming the coach for the Colts in 2018. Sirianni worked under Reich both with the then-San Diego Chargers and as his offensive coordinator in Indianapolis.
Reich did say after being fired by the Panthers in November that "this is probably the final chapter of my NFL journey." However, some time off, and the opportunity to rejoin an organization full of familiar faces might change his tune.
One area of possible concern, however, is that Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press reported that management wanted to fire Reich as offensive coordinator after the 2016 season. Doug Pederson fought for him to be retained. It's unclear what the relationship between Reich, Lurie and Roseman is now.
Eric Bieniemy: Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, Washington Commanders
Until the Commanders pick their next coach, we can't entirely rule out Bieniemy remaining on the staff in Washington. But even if it wasn't his fault, the Commanders lost eight consecutive games to finish the season, and quarterback Sam Howell played his way out of being the future for the team. Our guess is it will be an entirely new staff in D.C. in 2024.
But even if his year with the Commanders didn't land him the coaching job he's long desired, there's no reason to think Bieniemy won't have a gig in the NFL in 2024. He spent a decade on Andy Reid's staff in Kansas City, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and former receiver Tyreek Hill all speaking highly of him. The Chiefs have clearly missed him in 2023. And a recommendation from Reid to the powers that be in Philadelphia still probably would go a long way.
Bieniemy -- who spent the final season of his playing career in 1999 with the Eagles -- definitely has an edge to him. But he's a damn good coach, and the opportunity to call plays for the Eagles in 2024 would likely be appealing to him.
Klint Kubiak: Passing Game Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
If you want someone with a lifetime of being around great offensive minds, Kubiak fits that bill. He's the son of Gary Kubiak, the Super Bowl-winning coach who had strong runs with the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos. And like his father once did, he's now coaching under a Shanahan, serving as the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
Kubiak was the offensive coordinator for a lone season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 under Mike Zimmer, and then was the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022 under Nathaniel Hackett. So not every part of his resume is appealing.
But it's fair to assume that the 36-year-old is still developing as a coach, and if you want to try to find the next Shanahan disciple destined for success when given a bigger opportunity, he might be the best pick this offseason.
Cam Turner: Quarterbacks Coach, Indianapolis Colts
There's a strange amount of coaching overlap between the Eagles and Colts organizations over the past decade, and this would add another tentacle.
Steichen isn't coming back to be the offensive coordinator for the Eagles, but what about someone who is currently working under him? Turner just wrapped up his first season as quarterbacks coach for the Colts, helping the team to overcome the early-season loss of rookie Anthony Richardson and transition to Gardner Minshew. Prior to that, he was on the offensive staff of the Arizona Cardinals for four years, with the team developing Kyler Murray during that stretch.
Like Kubiak, Turner has deep roots in the sport of football. His dad, Ron, had stints as the coach of San Jose State, Illinois and FIU. His uncle, Norv, is one of the better offensive coordinators in NFL history, and also had stints coaching the Washington franchise, the then-Oakland Raiders and the Chargers. His cousin, Scott, is currently the passing game coordinator for the Raiders.
Kellen Moore: Offensive Coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers
Moore is another person whose status is in limbo, given that the Chargers haven't yet picked a new coach. Whoever they pick -- be it Jim Harbaugh or someone else -- will likely want to bring in their own offensive coordinator, leaving Moore looking for a new job in 2024.
The former Boise State signal caller was largely successful in four seasons as the Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2022, but was let go after quarterback Dak Prescott tossed a career-high 15 interceptions in 2022. Prescott thrived with Mike McCarthy as his play caller in 2023, which some may say reflects poorly on Moore. But from 2019-2021, Prescott was pretty impressive with Moore serving as his offensive coordinator.
This season was such a disaster for the Chargers that it's hard to know what to make of Moore's role there. He walked into a situation where Brandon Staley was on the hot seat, and it blew up in his face. Not long ago, though, Moore seemed on the fast path to being a coach himself, and perhaps becoming Sirianni's offensive coordinator would get his career headed back in the right direction.
