NFL rumors: Eagles may lose offensive, defensive coordinators after Super Bowl
By Ian Levy
The Eagles may very well win the Super Bowl, but they could lose both their offensive and defensive coordinators before the dust settles.
In just a few hours, the Philadelphia Eagles will be taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Win or lose, the offseason starts tomorrow and the Eagles have already gotten word that there may be some big changes on the horizon.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported this morning that Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon had emerged as a key candidate for the heading coach opening of the Arizona Cardinals. Just a few minutes later, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Indianapolis Colts appear to have decided on Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as their next head coach.
The Indianapolis Colts have targeted Eagles’ offensive coordinator Shane Steichen to be their next head coach after informing other remaining candidates this morning that they are moving in a different direction, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/VgUa5YFXfa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2023
Will news about the Eagles coordinators be a distraction during the Super Bowl?
Both candidates are well respected and their profiles aren’t going to get much higher. The Eagles’ offense was second in points scored this season and Steichen helped unlock Jalen Hurts as a premier quarterback and MVP candidate. Their defense allowed the eighth-fewest points and the third-fewest total yards on the season.
It makes sense that both Steichen and Gannon are in the spotlight, they are a big part of why the Eagles have been able to reach the Super Bowl. But hearing news about their potential departures has to be at least a small distraction, even for the most disciplined team and even if seemed obvious that this was coming at some point.
That doesn’t mean it’s actually going to affect the Eagles’ performance though. Last season, the Vikings announced they would be hiring Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as their new head coach 11 days before the Super Bowl. Los Angeles went out and scored 23 points on the Bengals to win the big game, with Matthew Stafford throwing for three touchdowns.
It may take more than 23 points from the Eagles to beat the Chiefs but they should be locked on in both sides of the ball, regardless of who their coaching staff will lose over the next few weeks.