The Eagles are in catch-up mode with respect to coordinator hires, having lost both of their top assistants after the Super Bowl. Their search for a new top defensive coach could be nearing an end, though. 
Philadelphia will interview Sean Desai for a second time today, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). The Seahawks defensive assistant was on the radar of multiple teams during this year’s hiring cycle, but has yet to land a coordinator position. He was named as one of the initial candidates for the Eagles’ vacancy, and now finds himself as a finalist.
Desai, 39, headed to Seattle last offseason under the title of associate head coach. That marked his first job outside of Chicago, where he had spent the previous nine years. He worked his way from quality control coach to a one-year stint as defensive coordinator in 2021. That season, the Bears ranked sixth in the league in total defense, but sweeping changes to the coaching staff and front office the following offseason led him to Seattle.
In 2022, a Seahawks unit which moved on from franchise icon Bobby Wagner struggled in run defense in particular, which contributed to poor overall rankings in yardage and points allowed. The team did fare surprisingly well in the secondary, though, led by rookie corner and NFL interception leader Tariq Woolen. Seattle also finished top-10 in the league in sacks with a re-tooled pass rush.
Desai would inherit a strong defense if he were to be named as Jonathan Gannon‘s replacement, though the unit does feature a number of high-profile pending free agents. Desai would constitute an experienced staffer at the NFL level, compared to some of the college candidates they have shown interest in.
Here is an updated look at the Eagles’ DC search:
- Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): To conduct second interview 2/27
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed 2/21-2/22
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed
- Chris Shula, defensive backs coach (Rams): Interviewed
- Jim Leonhard, defensive coordinator (Wisconsin): Interviewed
- Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
@Adam LA Rose –
UGA’s Co-DC and ILB Coach Glenn Schumann was also interviewed for the Eagles DC opening.
Even though, he was likely not ever going to get the job, they did still have enough interest in him to bring him in for an interview him.
With that being the case, I think he should be mentioned as well. Admittingly though, I don’t know how many coaches they bring in for interviews. it could be too many to list, and that’s why you didn’t mention him in the article.