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Jalen Hurts is set to have his seventh different play caller in his seventh NFL season next fall.
After a disappointing first-round exit from the playoffs in 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles made the quick decision to remove offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo from his position — a move that appeared months too late, with a talented unit stumbling throughout the entirety of the regular season before a postseason loss to the 49ers.
Patullo, who replaced Kellen Moore as the Eagles' OC, was internally promoted to the role last spring. But as Nick Sirianni searches for a new play caller for the 2026 season, one thing's for sure: the new candidate will be an external hire.
Initially, a pair of former head coaches, Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll, appeared to be top fits for the job, but there's more obscurity around the search with those two names no longer in the mix.
Who will the Eagles hire as offensive coordinator? Here's the latest on Philadelphia's search for a play caller, plus more on why McDaniel and Daboll didn't take the OC role.
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Eagles offensive coordinator rumors tracker
Eagles to interview Texans QBs coach Jerrod Johnson
- Date: Jan. 26
- Source: Dianna Russini
With multiple names having been removed from the Eagles' search, a new name they're now expected to speak with is Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, per Russini.
Johnson spent one season, 2020, with Nick Sirianni on the Colts' offensive staff.
Eagles interviewed Dolphins OC Frank Smith
- Date: Jan. 26
- Source: Ian Rapoport
Philadelphia missed out on Mike McDaniel, but is now talking to his top offensive mind this past season, as they have reportedly interviewed Dolphins OC Frank Smith for their OC job.
Charlie Weis Jr. withdraws name from Eagles' OC search
- Date: Jan. 26
- Source: Dianna Russini
Yet another name has decided to remain in-place vs. taking the Eagles job, as LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. did speak to Philadelphia, per Russini, but later informed the team he has chosen to remain in Baton Rouge.
Declan Doyle withdraws name from Eagles' OC search
- Date: Jan. 26
- Source: Dianna Russini
Last week, Philadelphia reportedly made plans to interview Bears OC Declan Doyle for their own position. In 2025, he was hired as the NFL’s youngest offensive coordinator.
However, Russini reports on Monday that Doyle has now withdrawn his name from consideration for the Eagles’ role, staying in Chicago.
Bobby Slowik will remain with Dolphins despite Eagles interest
- Date: Jan. 24
- Source: ESPN
The Eagles had reportedly interviewed Dolphins passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik for their OC job, but per ESPN, Slowik has now earned a promotion to OC in Miami for the 2026 season under new head coach Jeff Hafley.
Zac Robinson becomes Buccaneers' OC
- Date: Jan. 22
- Source: Adam Schefter
Falcons OC Zac Robinson interviewed with the Eagles, but he he now heading to the Buccaneers to become their offensive coordinator.
Matt Nagy interviewed for Eagles' OC role
- Date: Jan. 21
- Source: Mike Garafolo
Former Chiefs OC Matt Nagy, who Kansas City has already replaced during ongoing expectations that he'd land a head coaching job or role elsewhere, interviewed with the Eagles for their OC role, per Garafolo.
Nagy is a former intern and assistant for the Eagles from 2008-12, and he's said to be "currently exploring a few OC options."
Brian Daboll expected to either land Bills' HC or Titans' OC job
- Date: Jan. 21
- Source: Dianna Russini
According to Russini, former Giants head coach Brian Daboll was a candidate for the Eagles' OC role, but with Buffalo's head coaching job opening afterward, he's been pursuing that role instead. If Daboll does not become the Bills' head coach, he is expected to wind up in Tennessee as the offensive coordinator Titans, putting him out of the running for Philadelphia's vacancy.
Eagles pursued Mike McDaniel, but former Dolphins HC heading to Chargers
- Date: Jan. 20
- Source: Jeff Darlington
Entering the offseason, fired Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was viewed as potentially the biggest-name offensive coordinator on the open market, if he didn't get another head coaching role. While Philadelphia was a speculated destination for McDaniel, he opted to head elsewhere.
ESPN reported that McDaniel would be heading to the Chargers as offensive coordinator, which became official on Jan. 26. However, Jeff Darlington reported that both the Eagles and Buccaneers did pursue McDaniel, but "the lure of getting back to California and coaching Justin Herbert proved strongest."
Josh Grizzard a candidate for Eagles' OC job
- Date: Jan. 19
- Source: Jordan Schultz
The Eagles interviewed former Buccaneers OC Josh Grizzard on Jan. 19 for their own OC job, per Schultz.
Grizzard spent 2024 as Tampa Bay’s pass-game coordinator, then was offensive coordinator in 2025.
Eagles interviewed Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter
- Date: Jan. 18
- Source: Albert Breer
Another candidate for Philadelphia's search is Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, per Breer. Cooter was an Eagles assistant in 2021, and Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen is "open to letting Cooter pursue an opportunity to call plays."
Eagles interviewed Giants interim HC/OC Mike Kafka
- Date: Jan. 17
- Source: Jeremy Fowler
Mike Kafka, who was the Giants' offensive coordinator in 2025 before becoming their interim head coach, has interviewed for the Eagles' OC job, per Fowler.
The former NFL quarterback played for Philadelphia in 2011.
MORE: Revisiting Jalen Hurts' career timeline
Why did Mike McDaniel turn own Eagles OC job?
With the Eagles expected to pursue a veteran offensive mind for their offensive coordinator vacancy, Mike McDaniel was quickly a speculated candidate when he was let go by the Dolphins. Unless he became a head coach again, McDaniel was set to be arguably the biggest-name coordinator option available.
However, McDaniel passed on the Eagles' job to become the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 26, 2026According to Jeff Darlington, the Eagles did pursue McDaniel, but "the lure of getting back to California and coaching Justin Herbert proved strongest" for the former head coach. He opted to enter an offense with plenty of talent and a proven quarterback, also under a veteran head coach in Jim Harbaugh.
MORE: Meet Jalen Hurts' family tree, including wife Bryonna Burrows
Why did Brian Daboll turn down Eagels OC job?
The other former head coach heavily connected to the Eagles' vacancy was Daboll, who coached Hurts at Alabama and is known for his offensive background. However, the Bills' head coaching job becoming available appeared to have changed Daboll's plans, despite interviewing with the Eagles.
Per Dianna Russini, Daboll is pursuing the Bills' job, and if he doesn't get that, he's expected to become the Titans' offensive coordinator. On Jan. 23, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler did report that he's not "totally convinced" Daboll is off the table for Philadelphia despite a lack of buzz, but all signs point to Daboll heading elsewhere.
MORE: Complete Nick Sirianni coaching timeline
Why did Eagles fire Kevin Patullo?
Despite a Super Bowl-caliber offensive returning in 2025, including Hurts, reigning OPOY Saquon Barkley, Pro Bowl receivers in A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, and one of the NFL's best offensive lines, the Eagles' offense was clanky throughout the entire season in their Super Bowl defense.
While Vic Fangio's defense remained elite, it was apparent that the team was struggling with its offensive play calling transitioning from Kellen Moore in 2024 to Kevin Patullo in 2025. Sirianni had decided to promote Patullo internally for the role, hoping it would bring some continuity to the new season.
Instead, Hurts wasn't the same dual-threat he's typically been despite some stronger passing numbers, Philadelphia struggled on early downs despite red-zone success, Brown made public quips about his role in the offense, and Barkley dropped from 2,005 rushing yards and 5.8 yards per carry in 2024, to 1,140 rushing yards and 4.1 yards per carry in 2025. On top of health issues on the offensive line and an overall lack of big-play ability, Philadelphia's offense struggled.
Still, there was enough talent and defensive prowess to win the NFC East. But a first-round playoff exit was the culmination of those offensive struggles, as the Eagles couldn't put enough points on the board against the 49ers. Fairly unsurprisingly, news followed after the season that Patullo wouldn't be retaining his role as offensive coordinator.
Now, the Eagles are pursuing a more experienced coordinator who can get Hurts, Barkley, Brown and more back on track in 2026.
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