Eagles screwing up head coaching search worse than we thought

The Philadelphia Eagles were a late entrant in the search for a new head coach, but that doesn’t excuse being on track to make an awful hire.

Regardless of what you think of Doug Pederson, and it’s clear I’m no fan, the Philadelphia Eagles somewhat surprisingly fired him last week. A decision like that comes with the assumption of a pretty good idea of who would replace him, even as other teams make head coaching hires.

On Saturday, after getting no buzz for head coaching jobs for the first time in years, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels surfaced as a candidate the Eagles would interview. They also reportedly put in a request for Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, however obviously.

On Monday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler offered an update on the Eagles’ coaching search.

McDaniels is now apparently a prime candidate for the Eagles’ job, and Buccaneers defensive coordinator (and former New York Jets head coach) Todd Bowles has “some internal support.” Meanwhile, there’s no interview planned with Bieniemy. The Chiefs are in the AFC Championship Game again, but it’s unclear if the lack of an interview with Bieniemy is driven by him or the Eagles.

The Eagles seem intent on botching this search

Of course, there’s a huge elephant in Philadelphia’s coaching search room that has now been confirmed to be front and center. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Sunday, the Eagles have told candidates they believe quarterback Carson Wentz is fixable and they want to keep him.

Salary cap implications are front and center in the idea of keeping Wentz, unless the Eagles can find someone willing to trade for him this offseason (the Indianapolis Colts?). But effectively telling head coaching prospects “this is your quarterback” is a bad idea. Maybe that’s why Bieniemy isn’t set to interview, and the Eagles are going down the pecking order to McDaniels and Bowles.

If McDaniels is smart, he says no to the Eagles if they make him an offer. Years (prior to this one) of interviewing for multiple head coaching jobs is not meant to yield being told who your quarterback is right off the bat, from above, when you talk about a job (let alone take it).

Eagles GM Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie should get what they deserve–a head coach who has no other options (including staying in his current job, which Bowles should do too) and is willing to be a puppet for management in regard to Wentz.