As the Philadelphia Eagles continue to seek their head coach, we treat each legitimate candidate separately, while we can also serve this page as a centralized tracker.
It should be noted that the Eagles are likely to interview a whole bunch of candidates, as they will be conducted in part via Zoom meetings and can be conducted without the need. In other words, the expectation here is that this tracker will be filled with many names, and there will be plenty of updates. Bookmark, please.
Most recent updates at the top of this list:
Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo
As a coach, Mayo has only two years of experience. His official title was ‘coach within the lineout balance’, which does not sound like much, but his role was bigger than the title would indicate. The Patriots do not have an official ‘defense coordinator’ in their staff. Outside line coach Mayo and Steve Belichick were among the top two defensive assistants under Bill Belichick. It should also be noted that Brian Flores was’ only ‘the Patriots’ lineout coach when the Miami Dolphins appointed him as their head coach in 2019.
Mayo was considered a fierce leader and highly intelligent player on the field during his playing days, and at just 34 years old, he is clearly considered a young coach as an NFL coach. Yet it is probably too early for Mayo to make a big leap to head coach at such a young age, and with only two years of coaching experience.
More about Mayo here.
Mike Kafka, Chiefs QB Coach
The Eagles Reportedly, they have an interest in Kafka. We will discuss him in more depth if / when a report appears that the Eagles are planning to interview him.
Todd Bowles, Buccaneers DC
Bowles spent one season with the Eagles and even served as their defensive coordinator to end the disastrous 2012 season after the team sacked Juan Castillo.
More notably, Bowles got a head coach at the Jets, which lasted four years and did not go well. The Jets went 10-6 under Bowles in its first season there in 2015 with Fitzpatrick at quarter. However, he eventually set a 24-40 record with the Jets and has won just 14 games over his last three years. In fairness, he was, in addition to Fitzpatrick, his backs Josh McCown, Bryce Petty and rookie Sam Darnold, in addition to a bad list otherwise.
As a defense coordinator, Bowles achieved great results. In 2020, the Buccaneers had the best defense in the NFL. They were number 1 in conflicting rushing attempts, rushing yards, chasing TDs and yards per rush. In that sense, his “stop the run first” style of defense is similar to the approach we’ve seen over the years of Jim Schwartz.
More about Bowles here.
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Robert Saleh, 49ers DC
Saleh would probably already be a head coach, even if it was not a search for a year ago that worked against him. He was a hot name, but because the 49ers went to the Super Bowl, and because there were only three openings for head coaches, he had to wait a year.
The Niners defense was outstanding in 2019, and Saleh kept that unit at a high level by 2020 (sixth in DVOA), despite an abnormal number of injuries at all three levels of defense. Saleh is known for his demonstrative emotion on the sidelines during matches, something his players seem to react to.
If Saleh gets a head coaching job, it is believed he will bring in Niners attacking assistants, who will install a version of Kyle Shanahan’s widely praised offense.
More about Saleh here.
Arthur Smith, Titans OC
Smith has been with the Titans since 2011 and has survived three head coach shots. He has been their attacking coordinator since 2019. With a defensive head coach in Mike Vrabel, Smith was given the opportunity to manage the show offensively for Tennessee, and in the two years he was their attacking coordinator, the Titans became good. results. In 2020, they were second in the NFL in points, and fourth in yards.
Obviously, Derrick Henry gets most of the credit for driving the Titans offense (and rightly so), but Smith’s offense also helped turn Ryan Tannehill into a legitimately good NFL fullback.
More about Smith here.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma HC
Riley is arguably the best coaching candidate from the university ranks, as he achieved a 45-8 record in Oklahoma, while developing some eighth-overall and Heisman winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Riley also coached Jalen Hurts for one year, and Hurts ended the season as the runner-up in the Heisman poll.
Riley is considered an innovative offensive mind, of course in the foreplay, but also in the game, whose scheme has been stolen by many NFL offenders. Do Riley’s offense succeed because of his plan, or because he was able to develop the talents of his quarterback? Either way, he’s a winner in the debate.
More about Riley here.
update: Paul Domowitch of the Inquirer reports that Riley ‘apparently remains content to stay where he is.’
Duce Staley, Eagles assistant HC, coach of the RB
Jeffrey Lurie said during his press conference on Monday that Staley will get a chance.
“I would expect Duce Staley to be a candidate,” Lurie said. “He is a good representative of the Eagles and knows our values. I would also expect him to be part of the search as well. ‘
Unlike the other candidates on this list, Staley does not have a coordinator or a coaching experience, but he does have the mental composition and leadership skills to oversee a roster. If Staley were to become head coach, the Eagles would likely have him play with an attacking coordinator.
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