Extending Jeff Stoutland a Wise Move with Eagles' O-Line Soon to Be in Flux
The first in-season contract extension wasn’t one of the many free agents the Eagles will have once Super Bowl LVII ends sometime Sunday night.
It went to an assistant coach. Not just any coach but offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, the crème de la crème of assistant coaches.
He is the heart and soul of the Eagles’ offensive line operation. Left tackle Jordan Mailata told a national audience this season that he went to Stoutland University.
Stoutland had been getting some feelers from other teams about becoming their offensive coordinator, but GM Howie Roseman squashed that by giving Stoutland, 61, a multiyear deal prior to boarding a place for Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.
It’s a smart move.
The Eagles' offensive line could be in flux over the next two seasons, if not as soon as next year.
Center Jason Kelce could retire at some point after the Super Bowl.
Right guard Isaac Seumalo is a free agent this offseason.
Right tackle Lane Johnson is 32 and has a torn groin. He said earlier this year that he would like to play at least two more years, but one never knows how another Super Bowl title might impact his decision.
Then there’s Mailata, who digests everything Stoutland teaches and preaches.
Stoutland worked him out in Florida prior to the 2018 draft and loved what he saw so much that he reported back to Roseman that he has talent that can be developed.
The GM then took a flyer on the Australian rugby star who had never played football before and picked him in the seventh round.
Sure enough, Stoutland developed Mailata.
Head coach Nick Sirianni was pleased with the new deal for Stoutland.
“He’s the best,” he said. “And that’s one of the most important … every position is important, don’t get me wrong, but that position to me, offensive line coach/run game coordinator to me is kind of like a quarterback.
“There are only so many guys in the world who can do it at the level that Stout’s doing it. and I love Stout as a person. He is a phenomenal coach in so many different ways. You always look at a coach and you’re like, first and foremost, they have to be able to teach fundamentals to these guys.
"You have the players' talent right here (he held up his hand at eye level) and you teach them the fundamentals and you’re helping them get to another level (raising his hand above his head).”
Stoutland is a rarity in that he has survived three head coaching changes, starting with Chip Kelly who brought him on board from the University of Alabama in 2013. Then came Doug Pederson and now Sirianni.
“Our job as coaches is to take the player to another level just a tick above that they might not be able to reach themselves,” said Sirianni. “Stout has that unbelievable ability to teach fundamentals and really detail it out for them.
“And then on top of that, he understands how to put players in a great position. And that’s not always easy in the run game. He’s really talented at that.
“Everything you’re looking for in a coach with the fundamentals and then the scheming part of it that’s what you look for. And then you always look for the fit – how they mesh with everybody on staff. And everybody loves Stout. So, he hits all three out of the park.”
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Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles Today and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglesmaven.com and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.
