Eagles and Secondary Coach Dennard Wilson Part Ways

The end game was apparent when the Eagles went outside the organization to tab Sean Desai as their new defensive coordinator to replace Jonathan Gannon, who left to become the head coach in Arizona.

The Eagles and secondary coach/passing game coordinator Dennard Wilson have mutually agreed to part ways, according to a league source. NFL Media broke the news first.

Under Wilson, the Eagles had the league's top-ranked pass defense this season, surrendering 180 yards per game on average.

After being a finalist for the #Eagles DC job that went to Sean Desai, Philly defensive pass game coordinator and DBs coach Dennard Wilson and the team are mutually parting ways, sources say. This is often the outcome when an in-house candidate is passed over for a promotion.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2023

Wilson was Gannon's self-professed right-hand man in Philadelphia and the leading in-house candidate to get the job. He was also publicly endorsed by Darius Slay, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Marcus Epps shortly before the Eagles pulled the trigger on Desai.

Desai and Wilson were the two finalists for the job after a search that included former NFL head coach and now-Denver DC Vance Joseph, LA Rams passing game coordinator Chris Shula as well as college candidates Glenn Schumann of Georgia and Jesse Minter of Michigan.

Also interviewed was 29-year-old linebackers coach Nick Rallis, who ultimately left to become Gannon's DC with the Cardinals.

"My job was to go through the process, and just like we do with everything, cast a wide net and get to know different people, get to talk to different people, and get to see who is ready for the job," head coach Nick Sirianni said.

Desai, who has experience as a DC with Chicago and was the associate head coach in Seattle under Pete Carroll, was the difficult choice for Sirianni, who relishes promoting from within like he did on the offensive side with Brian Johnson, who was the Eagles' QBs coach before being elevated to replace Shane Steichen as the offensive coordinator after Steichen became the head coach in Indianapolis.

"I think we interviewed a really good group of guys and was really impressed by all of them actually," said Sirianni. "Just at the end of the day, obviously some experience that Sean has had calling it, but also just I have to do what I feel is best for the team, and I felt like Sean was the best guy for the job."

Once the decision was made it was always going to be difficult to return for Wilson, something Sirianni hinted at earlier this week at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"We'll obviously go through that as we continue on," Sirianni said. "Does the staff dynamic fit? Does Sean have anybody?"

Sirianni did praise Wilson, however.

"Dennard is a great football coach," the coach said. "He's done an outstanding job. If he is still our defensive backs coach, we'll be lucky to have him because we know how good of a coach he is. ... I think the world of Dennard and how good of a football coach he is."

The Eagles now have two defensive coaching jobs open - at linebacker and in the secondary.

One report from Boston had the Eagles talking with former Detroit head coach and long-time New England assistant Matt Patricia as a potential LB coach.

I’m hearing that Matt Patricia has a shot to land with the Philadelphia Eagles on the defensive staff, presumably as a linebackers coach.
— Karen Guregian (@kguregian) March 5, 2023

That would be an interesting political move because Slay, a team captain, and Pro Bowl cornerback, has not been shy when discussing his prior issues with Patricia.

Former Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine, a Doylestown native and former high school coach at North Penn, and Willian Tennent who worked with Desai in the past, has also been floated for a potential role on the staff.

-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen