Doug Pederson, Nick Sirianni, Shane Steichen, Brian Johnson, Kellen Moore and Kevin Patullo. If they were gathered in an old church, Christian Bégin would undoubtedly ask them to reveal the bond that unites them. In fact, these six coaches have all been offensive play callers for the Philadelphia Eagles since the arrival of quarterback Jalen Hurts in 2020.
Published at
That’s a lot. Far too much, perhaps. In his 23-year career, Tom Brady has received guidance from five game managers. Peyton Manning has had seven in 17 seasons. Hurts is 27 years old and has already seen six coaches come and go. Six systems, six ways of doing things, six different philosophies.
In professional football, players need consistency, stability and benchmarks to excel.
The Eagles boast a 10-5 record. They’re not doing anything exceptional, but thanks to a weak division, the reigning Super Bowl champions will make the playoffs.
However, they qualified with less brilliance than last year. Because of their success, the Eagles had to start almost from scratch at the start of the season.
For three years, their attack has been defined by the run. In 2023, the team ran 29.2 times per game, good for seventh in the NFL. Last year, Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles. The team ran 36.7 times per game. More than any team.
Thanks to a mobile quarterback, the best running back of his generation and the most efficient offensive line in the league, the run was a lethal weapon from the inaugural game to the Super Bowl. Then, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore accepted the position of head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
PHOTO GERALD HERBERT, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kellen Moore, head coach of the New Orleans Saints
The risks of change
This is often the fate reserved for the best teams. Good coordinators eventually get a promotion to another organization.
Generally speaking, the departure of a coordinator or deputy coordinator has its effect. Across the NFL, aside from Moore, five other coordinators changed sides this past offseason. Grant Udinski moved from the Minnesota Vikings to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Liam Coen, from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Jaguars. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions to New York Jets. Ben Johnson, from the Lions to the Chicago Bears. And Lou Anarumo, from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Indianapolis Colts. Each team that lost one of these coordinators performed worse than last year.
The largest organizations have won because of the stability and loyalty of their most important members. Josh McDaniels was the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots from 2012 to 2021. Steve Spagnuolo has been the defensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs since 2019. Two genius coaches who have helped build dynasties.
Patullo and learning
Difficult, however, to criticize coordinators who wish to access a head coaching position. The Eagles, to come back to them, suffer from yet another change at the offensive coordinator position.
Before getting a promotion within the organization, Kevin Patullo served as the Air Game Coordinator for the Eagles from 2021 to 2024. From 2018 to 2020, with the Colts, he worked with the receivers and passing game artisans.
Since the start of his coaching career, Patullo has developed expertise in games deployed through the air. He must now run an offense designed to keep the ball on the ground.
Bottom line: the Eagles offense has lost its identity.
PHOTO TERRANCE WILLIAMS, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saquon Barkley (26)
This team is full of contradictions. She passes more than she runs. But they are still the fourth team that passes the least (51.57% of games) and the fourth team that runs the most (48.43% of games).
This results in a mixed attack, a poorly used star ball carrier, an offensive line no longer knowing where to turn and a mid-pack team. The Eagles have the worst record among teams that have already qualified. They arrive 16es for points scored, 15es for rushing yards and 23es for air yards.
PHOTO GEOFF BURKE, ARCHIVES IMAGN IMAGES
Quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs with the ball during a game against the Washington Commanders.
But the Eagles are still here. Even if all the big guns on offense are on track to obtain worse individual statistics than last year. All except Jalen Hurts. Despite a new offensive coordinator, a new system and declining performance from his teammates, the captain of this attack still finds a way to win games. If the trend continues, Hurts will finish the season with more wins, completions, air yards and touchdown passes than last year.
Yet Hurts rarely appears among the top ranks of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. Eagles coaches come and go, but Hurts excels season after season. It is said of him that he is only a good quarter of a system. After all, maybe he’s the system.
