Eagles are going way off the map with their head coaching search

It appears the Philadelphia Eagles are going way off the map to replace Doug Pederson. 

The Philadelphia Eagles might be late to the new head coaching welcome party, but low and behold, here they come. After a 4-11-1 season, Doug Pederson is out and Howie Roseman will have to find a new face to lead the charge.

Sometimes going off the beaten path works, which appears to be Roseman’s strategy. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Philadelphia is expected to interview New England Patriots linebacker coach Jarod Mayo for the open position.

Mayo spent eight seasons as the star linebacker for New England, winning a Super Bowl and being named to a pair of Pro Bowls. He replaced current Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores at the position following his departure in 2019.

Before Eagles fans lose their mind, note that the 34-year-old Mayo is one of the multiple names for the position. Philadelphia has made contact with Tennessee’s Arthur Smith, San Francisco’s Robert Saleh, Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles. Mayo might be the first to interview, but he certainly won’t be the last.

And beyond that, he might not be a terrible candidate for the job.

Would Jarod Mayo transition well to a head coaching role?

Considered by many around the league as a “star in the making”, Mayo eventually will have his opportunity to become the leader of a franchise. The Patriots’ struggles relied more on the offensive side in 2020 while the defense still played quite well despite multiple opt-outs due to COVID-19.

Since taking over for Flores, New England has allowed only 35 touchdowns through the air, the league’s lowest in 32 games. They’ve also tallied 58 takeaways, the second-most in the league in that same span.

Philadelphia’s defense was the saving grace in a completely lost season for Philly. The team allowed an average of 334.6 total yards per game and gave up only 20.9 points per outing, both ranking inside the top 10. The biggest issue was at the linebacking role as no one walked away as the clear-cut favorite to start in 2021.

And with little to spend in cap space, a name like Mayo would have to draft an up and comer to become the general of the defense.

Sometimes the under-the-radar hires are the ones that work best. In two years, Flores transformed Miami into a rising contender with one of the league’s best defense. While young, perhaps this could be a chance to start fresh with Philadelphia and regain the mantra in the NFC East.

Mayo might be a reach, but it could be the best move made all season.