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2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

February 28th, 2023 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

Eagles Hire Sean Desai As DC; Team Eyeing Mike Pettine For Assistant Role?

February 28th, 2023 at 2:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

2:36pm: The hire is now official. After two meetings, the Eagles are giving Desai a second chance at a coordinator job.

2:21pm: Sean Desai‘s two interviews with the Eagles look to have won over team brass. The Seahawks assistant is heading to Philadelphia, Pete Carroll confirmed Tuesday (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta).

While the Seattle HC did not entirely announce it was for the Philadelphia DC post, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com noted Tuesday morning (via Twitter) the former Chicago DC had emerged as a strong candidate for the position. This stands to be Desai’s second chance at a coordinator gig; his first one ended following Matt Nagy‘s firing last year.

The Bears promoted Desai to DC in 2021, but the team’s regime change naturally led to coordinator switches. Desai, 39, trekked to Seattle and worked under Carroll this past season. He drew interest from many teams this offseason. The Browns, Dolphins, Vikings, Broncos and Eagles interviewed Desai for their DC posts. Desai dropped out of Minnesota’s search to pursue the Denver gig, after former mentor Vic Fangio recommended the Broncos to the young assistant. But Vance Joseph ended up with that gig. The Eagles, however, had shown interest during Desai’s time as a Broncos candidate.

Desai will replace Jonathan Gannon as DC. While the Bears ranked 22nd in scoring defense in 2021, they finished sixth in yards allowed. A struggling offense hamstrung Chicago that year, and it led to a full-scale overhaul. Seattle did not make much improvement defensively last season, dropping from 11th to 25th in total defense from 2021-22. Nevertheless, the Eagles look set to bet on Desai.

The Eagles have also been connected to adding Mike Pettine to their staff, Geoff Mosher of InsidetheBirds.com tweets. Brought on as a Vikings assistant during Ed Donatell‘s one-and-done stay, Pettine was a Bears senior defensive aide during the 2021 season. The former Browns HC and veteran DC could be set to reprise his role on a Desai-led staff. With Brian Flores now in charge of Minnesota’s defense, it would make sense for Pettine — a former Packers, Bills and Jets DC — to land elsewhere.

Eagles DBs coach Dennard Wilson served as a strong candidate for the DC job, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports confirms. The Eagles will promote from within to fill their OC post, elevating QBs coach Brian Johnson, but it certainly looks like they are going with an outside hire on defense. Wilson has been with the team for the past two years; it will be interesting to see if he sticks around under Desai.

Eagles To Promote Brian Johnson To OC

February 28th, 2023 at 8:45am CST by Adam La Rose

One of the Eagles’ coordinator vacancies has been filled, and in expected fashion. Philadelphia is promoting quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

The NFC champions lost OC Shane Steichen not long after the Super Bowl when he took the Colts’ head coaching position. That ended his two-year tenure with the Eagles, which saw quarterback Jalen Hurts evolve from a question mark entering the 2022 season to an MVP finalist. His absence will be felt, but a familiar face will now lead the team’s offense.

Johnson, 36, took his first NFL coaching opportunity with the Eagles in 2021 as part of head coach Nick Sirianni‘s first staff. That followed a decade in the college ranks, including stints as OC at Utah, Houston and Florida. His work with those programs, and with Hurts and the Eagles, had him squarely on the OC radar for other teams during this year’s hiring cycle. After the Eagles made it clear prospective new employers would not be well-served interviewing him, though, expectations grew that he would be on tap to succeed Steichen.

Sirianni indicated before this move that his intention was for the team’s next OC to call plays, continuing the setup in place with Steichen. Johnson will be hard-pressed to repeat the success of the team’s balanced attack, which ranked fifth in rushing yards and ninth in passing yards last season. A number of key contributors, including the extension-eligible Hurts, will be in place for 2023, though lead running back Miles Sanders is likely to depart as a free agent.

Passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo was the other internal option mentioned as a candidate to get the OC nod, confirming that that Eagles would not be looking outside the organization to fill the position. The 2023 offseason has seen a plethora of coordinator changes, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Losing Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon after the Super Bowl left the team playing catch-up relative to the rest of the NFL. Their DC search is ongoing, but now they have their top offensive assistant in place.

Johnson and Hurts have a longtime personal relationship, which will lead to significant expectations for the pair as they look to build off of their success in 2022. After the unit put the Eagles on the razor’s edge of winning a Super Bowl, another deep playoff run this season would come as little surprise.

Eagles Likely To Let Miles Sanders Walk In Free Agency

February 27th, 2023 at 9:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Miles Sanders is a near-certainty not to be franchise-tagged, this year’s batch of tag decisions will likely affect the Eagles running back. Various teams’ tag decisions — two of them in the NFC East — stand to impact Sanders, who is likely to hit free agency.

The Eagles, who have most of their starting defense unsigned, are not expected to bring back Sanders on a second contract, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports notes. GM Howie Roseman is not believed to want to make a notable investment at the running back position, which would send Sanders to a crowded market. Sanders, 26, would like to stay in Philadelphia. He may not have that option, given how many other priorities the NFC champions will have in free agency.

[RELATED: Eagles Want To Re-Sign C.J. Gardner-Johnson]

How the Cowboys, Giants and Raiders proceed with their respective tags will determine how crowded that market will be. Tony Pollard, Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are on the tag radar. Barkley’s tag status will depend on if the Giants and Daniel Jones can reach an extension agreement in the next week. Jacobs’ place as a tag recipient is less certain, though that scenario has been on the radar for a while now. Pollard looks likeliest to be tagged. These three being off the market will move Sanders and others up on teams’ various boards, and the former second-round pick is coming off a big year.

Barkley’s successor at Penn State, Sanders smashed his career-high rushing total with 1,269 yards en route to Pro Bowl acclaim. He added 11 rushing TDs, nearly doubling his previous career-best mark, and resided as a central cog in the Eagles’ dominant ground attack. The Jalen Hurts-led offense, however, did not focus much on Sanders as an aerial threat. He totaled 78 receiving yards this season and did not surpass 200 in 2020 or 2021. In Carson Wentz‘s final full season as Philly’s starter, however, Sanders amassed 509 receiving yards. That season stands out from his next three and his lone year as the Nittany Lions’ starter (139). Sanders’ lack of steady receiving contributions will affect his value.

Even if the top three free agent backs are cuffed via the tag, Sanders is still on track to join several other starters on the market. Kareem Hunt, Devin Singletary, Jamaal Williams, David Montgomery, D’Onta Foreman, Damien Harris and both the Dolphins’ primary 2022 backs (Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson) are ticketed for free agency. There are also not too many teams in need at the position, which will likely depress the market ahead of a draft viewed as being full of promising (and cheap, save for Bijan Robinson) options at the oft-devalued job.

This array of options could give teams chances to retain their top backs at low costs. The Eagles have both Sanders and longtime backup Boston Scott headed for free agency (along with Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo and eight defensive starters). Absent low-cost reunions with one of those backs, Kenneth Gainwell poised to play a bigger role in 2023. The Eagles should also be expected to draft a back to team with Gainwell, Vacchiano adds.

Eagles To Conduct Second DC Interview With Sean Desai

February 27th, 2023 at 9:59am CST by Adam La Rose

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

Broncos To Hire Vance Joseph As DC

February 23rd, 2023 at 10:36am CST by Sam Robinson

Vance Joseph is coming back to Denver. The former Broncos head coach will make a quick return, agreeing to join Sean Payton‘s staff as defensive coordinator, Peter Schrager of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

This hire will come barely four years after the Broncos fired Joseph following a two-year HC run. While unusual, a coach coming back so soon is not unprecedented. Joseph beat out the likes of Rex Ryan, Matt Patricia and Sean Desai for the job. Joseph will again play the lead role in helming Denver’s defense, doing so under Payton this time around.

Joseph, 50, received extensive interest from the Eagles as well. He went through a two-day interview with Philly brass; that wrapped Wednesday. Despite a rocky history with the Broncos, Joseph kept the door open for a return. The University of Colorado alum has not worked with Payton previously, but these two will be the top coaches in the Broncos’ organization going forward. Payton will call plays offensively, and Joseph will now step into Denver’s defensive play-calling role.

The Broncos went 9-7 under Gary Kubiak in 2016; their decline began to hit under Joseph over the next two seasons. Denver went 5-11 and 6-10 in 2017 and ’18, respectively, though quarterback trouble did more to sink those teams than defensive issues. While the Broncos’ defense did dip from its Wade Phillips-overseen apex, Joseph immediately landed the Cardinals’ DC job upon being axed. It is not known if the Eagles offered Joseph their DC position, but the Broncos’ new ownership — as evidenced by the Payton hire — certainly would be in position to win a bidding war for a coach. Joseph left his Eagles interview believing he had a good chance at either that job or the Denver opening, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets.

The Cardinals interviewed Joseph for their HC position early in their lengthy search process but ended up preferring two other DCs — finalists Jonathan Gannon and Lou Anarumo. Gannon and Joseph soon came to an understanding, one that led the Cardinals to replace him with the NFL’s youngest active coordinator — 29-year-old Nick Rallis. The Cardinals took on water from all sides last season, with their defense ranking 24th in DVOA despite J.J. Watt‘s bounce-back finale. But Joseph’s unit played a major role in Arizona’s 2021 playoff voyage; DVOA ranked the 2021 Cardinals’ defense sixth. The metric placed Arizona’s 2020 defense, which did not have Chandler Jones for most of the season, 10th overall.

Joseph is the second former Broncos HC to return to the team as a defensive boss over the past 10 years. Phillips, Denver’s head coach from 1993-94, came back in 2015 and helped steer the Kubiak-led team to a Super Bowl win. This reminds more of the Chiefs rehiring Gunther Cunningham four years after firing him as head coach. Cunningham coached the Chiefs from 1999-2000, being promoted from DC, but he returned to his previous coordinator role under both Dick Vermeil and Herm Edwards. Unlike those circumstances, when the same GM was in place (Carl Peterson), the GM who fired Joseph — John Elway — is no longer in a regular role with the team. Payton and George Paton are running the show. New ownership is also in place, with the Rob Walton-led group taking over last year.

“I’m over it. It was never a sore spot,” Joseph said (via Denver7’s Troy Renck) of being fired as Broncos HC in 2019. “That’s a great opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL. It didn’t work out, but I wasn’t the first guy and I won’t be the last. There were never any ill feelings. It was just a job. It didn’t get done and you move on.”

Justin Simmons and Josey Jewell are the only Broncos cogs left from Joseph’s first run with the organization. The Broncos ranked 10th and fifth, respectively, in defensive DVOA under Joseph from 2017-18. His 11-21 HC record aside, Joseph has shown an ability to lead upper-echelon defenses. He will now bring four additional years of experience back to Denver. Joseph’s experience helped sell Payton, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Phillips also reached out to Joseph before his interview with Payton, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com notes.

Ryan obviously brings more experience than Joseph, but the ESPN analyst — reported as the favorite for this job days ago — has also been out of the league since the Bills fired him late in the 2016 season. Desai, who also interviewed for the Eagles’ DC job, has one season of coordinator experience. Joseph has been a head coach or D-coordinator for seven combined seasons. This will be his fourth opportunity to lead a defense.

Defensive backs coach Christian Parker also interviewed for the job, Legwold notes, adding Mike Zimmer interviewed for a separate position on staff. Kris Richard, whom Payton hired with the Saints in 2021, also interviewed for the gig. Parker would appear to be a candidate to stay, while Zimmer — previously mentioned as a candidate to team with Payton again — could be in play for a senior defensive assistant-type position. Joseph should still be expected to have input in how Denver’s defensive staff looks.

AFC Coaching Notes: Ventrone, Browns, Broncos, Joseph, Raiders, Dolphins, Texans

February 22nd, 2023 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

After the Colts changed coaching staffs, Bubba Ventrone will have an opportunity to land on his feet. The Indianapolis special teams coordinator is on track to interview with the Browns, and ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder tweets the Colts are expecting to lose him to the Cleveland job. Ventrone spent five seasons in Indianapolis and is a well-regarded ST coordinator. The Browns are also interviewing Giants assistant special teams coach Anthony Blevins, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports tweets. That meeting is expected to commence via Zoom today, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson (on Twitter). The Browns fired ST coordinator Mike Preiffer earlier this week. Blevins has been with the Giants for the past five years.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • Prior to the Cardinals making Nick Rallis the NFL’s youngest active coordinator, at 29, the Broncos had him on their radar. Denver showed interest in the former Philadelphia linebackers coach, Troy Renck of Denver7 notes. Rallis is a cool 31 years younger than the favorite to land the Denver job (Rex Ryan), but the Broncos are still eyeing Vance Joseph. Despite being fired after two seasons as Denver’s HC, Joseph is interested in coming back, Renck adds. The Eagles also have eyes on the ex-Cardinals DC; they are finishing up a two-day interview Wednesday.
  • The Colts are hiring University of Cincinnati offensive coordinator Tom Manning as their tight ends coach, Aaron Wilson of KPRC tweets. This will be a reunion for Manning, who was on Frank Reich‘s first Colts staff as tight ends coach. Manning had recently accepted Cincinnati’s offer to be its OC, coming over after a four-year stay on Matt Campbell‘s Iowa State staff. The ex-Cyclones OC drew interest from multiple NFL teams, per Wilson.
  • The Browns will look to the college ranks as well. They are set to hire Utah State defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda to be their safeties coach, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel (Twitter links). Prior to his two-year run in Utah, Banda spent the previous two seasons as the University of Miami’s co-DC.
  • To fill their safeties coach post, the Dolphins are adding Eagles assistant Joe Kasper, Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com tweets. Kasper joined the Eagles’ staff in Nick Sirianni‘s first year; this will be a move up the ladder, bringing positional responsibilities Kasper’s way for the first time.
  • The Raiders fired defensive line coach Frank Okam, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes. A former NFL D-lineman, Okam came to Las Vegas after two years on Matt Rhule‘s Carolina staff. The Raiders struggled on defense for most of the season, dropping from 14th to 28th in total defense. Rather than can DC Patrick Graham, the team is moving on from one of his lieutenants.
  • In addition to ST coordinator Frank Ross, the Texans are also retaining wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels, Wilson writes. The younger brother of Josh McDaniels, Ben has been with the Texans since Nick Caserio‘s 2021 arrival. While Ben McDaniels has never worked for the Patriots, Caserio has been close with Josh McDaniels for many years. The Texans promoted Ben McDaniels from assistant wideouts coach in 2022.

Eagles Interviewed Jim Leonhard For DC Vacancy

February 22nd, 2023 at 11:19am CST by Adam La Rose

FEBRUARY 22: Leonhard will not move forward in the Eagles’ interview process. Both sides decided this would not be a good fit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The former Wisconsin DC and interim head coach planned to undergo hip surgery and skip this season, per Fowler, but the Eagles job opening changed his plans. After discussion, however, the Eagles will choose another candidate.

FEBRUARY 20: A few veteran assistants have already been connected to the defensive coordinator vacancy in Philadelphia. Their list of candidates to replace Jonathan Gannon has grown once again, with another reported interview having taken place.

Philadelphia met with Jim Leonhard to discuss their DC position, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). The 40-year-old has been mentioned as a potential coordinator hire at the NFL level before, while establishing himself as a candidate for an NFL posting during his time at Wisconsin. He has been with the Badgers since 2016, leading the team’s defense for the past six years and taking over as interim head coach this past campaign.

Leonhard was offered the Packers’ DC job in 2021, but turned it down. That illustrated how he was on the radar for a jump to the pro level, something which was repeated when he was mentioned as a candidate in Baltimore for their defensive coordinator vacancy last offseason. Given his track record at Wisconsin, the 10-year NFL player is likely to land an NFL gig soon, and the Eagles would certainly represent a desirable opening.

Philadelphia’s defense played a large role in their 2022 success under Gannon. The unit racked up a remarkable 70 sacks and excelled defending the pass. That made Gannon a late finalist for the HC position in Arizona, one which he accepted not long after the Super Bowl. His absence has left the NFC champions in need of a replacement late into the 2023 cycle.

One of their targets is ex-Cardinals DC Vance Joseph. Before the 50-year-old had been let out of his Arizona contract, it was reported that the Eagles would request an interview with him. Providing an update on that front, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets that Joseph will interview Tuesday and Wednesday with the Eagles. He remains in the running for the DC position in Denver as well, so the outcome of those meetings will be important for both teams.

Here is how the Eagles’ DC search is shaping up:

Eagles Conducted DC Interviews With Chris Shula, Jesse Minter

February 21st, 2023 at 9:55am CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles continue to evaluate both the NFL and NCAA landscapes in their search for a new defensive coordinator. A pair of candidates are the latest names to be connected to the opening.

Philadelphia has interviewed Rams defensive backs coach Chris Shula along with Michigan DC Jesse Minter, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (on Twitter). Neither coach had drawn interest for an opening elsewhere so far in the 2023 hiring cycle, but they have added to the growing lost of staffers the Eagles are considering as they try to find Jonathan Gannon‘s replacement.

Shula, 37, is the grandson of Hall of Famer Don Shula and son of former Bengals head coach Dave Shula. He began his NFL coaching career with the Chargers in 2015, spending two years there. He moved on to the Rams in 2017, becoming a member of Sean McVay‘s first Los Angeles staff after playing under him in college. Shula worked with the team’s linebackers for his first five seasons, but in 2022 was given the new title of DBs coach along with passing game coordinator.

Minter, meanwhile, has primarily worked in the college ranks throughout his coaching career. The 39-year-old’s first and only NFL gig to date came in Baltimore beginning in 2017. He was hired as a defensive assistant that year, and later spent time as assistant, then full-time defensive backs coach of the Ravens. In 2021, he returned to NCAA sidelines with Vanderbilt, leading him to the Wolverines this past season. Michigan’s defense played a key role in their second straight Big Ten championship and CFP appearance this season. That has understandably put Minter back on the NFL radar.

The Eagles not only lost Gannon as coordinator after two seasons, but they face the possibility of losing a number of defensives starters in free agency this offseason. That includes several members of their secondary, though keeping C.J. Gardner-Johnson is expected to be a priority. Targeting staffers with experience as defensive backs coaches would make sense in their attempt to re-tool that unit heading into 2023.

Here is an updated breakdown of the Eagles’ search:

  • Sean Desai, defensive assistant (Seahawks): Interview requested
  • Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Team interested
  • Jim Leonhard, defensive coordinator (Wisconsin): Interviewed
  • Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed
  • Chris Shula, defensive backs coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate

Coaching Updates: Eagles, Cards, Broncos

February 20th, 2023 at 10:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Following an impressive 2022 campaign that led to a Super Bowl appearance, the Eagles have watched their coaching staff be picked apart as both former coordinators have accepted positions as head coaches elsewhere. It looks like two of the assistants that they’ve held onto so far may be leading candidates to replace their former coordinators, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

Breer claims that it’s looking more and more like quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson will be staying in Philadelphia. The lauded assistant recently turned down an opportunity to join Frank Reich‘s new staff in Carolina, which Breer believes sets him up to succeed Shane Steichen as the Eagles’ next offensive coordinator.

Similarly, Philadelphia may be looking internally to replace Jonathan Gannon, as well. Originally, the team considered Vic Fangio and Jerod Mayo as top candidates, but with Fangio taking the coordinator job in Miami and Mayo looking more and more like Bill Belichick‘s protege in New England, they were forced to keep looking. Breer posits that passing-game coordinator Dennard Wilson should be considered a top candidate for the defensive coordinator job in Philadelphia.

Here are a few other updates to coaching staffs currently in flux amidst regime changes:

  • The Cardinals have started piecing their coaching staff together under Gannon. The team has hired Klayton Adams to serve as their offensive line coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Adams has history coaching multiple offensive positions in the college ranks and last served as the tight ends coach for the Colts after two years as the assistant offensive line coach. He had recently accepted the offensive line coaching position at Stanford but will spurn the Cardinal to coach for the Cardinals. Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers is reportedly being retained by Gannon, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. No word on if Rodgers will retain both titles or solely serve as special teams coordinator. Lastly, the Cardinals had interviewed Commanders wide receivers coach Drew Terrell for their offensive coordinator position before hiring Drew Petzing to the position, but the team reportedly may still hire Terrell in a different role. According to Jeremy Folwer of ESPN, Terrell is considered a strong candidate to be hired as the pass-game coordinator in Arizona.
  • Yet another former Saints staffer will be joining Sean Payton in Denver. According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Dan Dalrymple will be joining the Broncos‘ staff. Dalrymple previously served as the Saints head strength and conditioning coach for the past 16 years. On the other side of things, a former Broncos staffer is on the way out, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Following recent suspicions that Payton had his own person in mind for the job, wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni has opted to join Nathaniel Hackett in New York under the same title.
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