Over a week has passed since the firing of Kevin Patullo in Philadelphia.
Judging by the fanbase’s reaction, you’d think the Eagles had just secured back-to-back world titles.
On the other hand, rather than excitement about the future, it seems the uncertainty ahead may be more unsettling than what fans endured over the past five months.
There are a multitude of reasons why the Eagles offense failed to find long-term success in 2025: struggles along the offensive line, the ongoing A.J. Brown saga, Saquon Barkley taking a step back, and, most notably, Jalen Hurts’ difficulties.
All of those factors, each capable of slowing down an offense on its own, combined to make Patullo the scapegoat for this year’s disappointment, leading to his firing, or rather his demotion, considering he remains in the building and will coach to some magnitude, according to 94WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks.
Before diving into whether a young offensive coordinator would find this job intriguing, or whether a veteran coach could get this group back on track, let’s take a look at the current Eagles landscape.
Philadelphia Heading into 2026
The Eagles are in an awkward position right now.
They’ve just won the NFC East in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004 and are not even a full year removed from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, yet something still feels off.
Strictly from an offensive standpoint, there’s a lot left to be desired.
Oddly enough, the offensive line ranked seventh according to PFF.com, but injuries and inconsistent play throughout the season made it look far from that on the field.
LG Landon Dickerson, who began the season injured, struggled significantly in both the run and pass game. He posted a 60.3 PFF grade, ranking 51st out of 81 qualifying guards.
LT Jordan Mailata and C Cam Jurgens also appeared to lose a step compared to 2024, when the Eagles had the most dominant line in the NFL.
Even RT Lane Johnson, now 36, missed time due to a Lisfranc foot injury that ended his season in November. Meanwhile, RG Tyler Steen, who replaced Mecki Becton, failed to match Becton’s performance from a year ago.
The injuries and struggles are hardly surprising after a grueling seven-month season, but they remain a cause for concern heading into next year.
In short, the offensive line is a major worry that the Eagles will need to address, whether through the draft or free agency.
Now, let’s talk about Saquon Barkley.
In 2024, Barkley became just the eighth running back in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 yards in a season.
For some reason, many fans expected him to replicate that feat in 2025, but that level of production is rarely sustainable unless your name is Derrick Henry, the only back to rush for over 1,900 yards twice in his career.
Barkley’s yards before contact (YBC) dropped from 3.8 in 2024 to 2.6 in 2025. While a battered offensive line certainly played a role, the decline also suggests that Barkley has lost a step.
Watching him this season, it was clear that he no longer has the same burst.
When that reality hits NFL running backs, it’s almost inevitable that production declines.
The former Giant rushed for just 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, with only four 100+-yard games, down from 11 in his record-breaking 2024 season.
On top of all that, to make matters more complicated, Barkley signed a two-year, $41.2 million contract prior to the 2025 season. He carries a nearly $10 million cap hit next year, and if the Eagles decide to part ways afterward, the dead-cap charge would exceed $29 million, according to Spotrac.com.
Once again, that’s hardly ideal for a running back whose production appears to be on the decline.
At the wide receiver and tight end positions, the pass catchers currently represent the biggest upside on the roster.
The key question, however, is how much longer the WR1 and TE1 will remain with the team.
At this point, the ongoing A.J. Brown saga seems exhausting for all parties involved.
It’s hard to imagine him wearing Philadelphia green next season, given all the issues he’s caused both on and off the field. A fresh start would likely be mutually beneficial, especially since DeVonta Smith is more than capable of stepping up as the WR1.
A trade could bring in much needed draft compensation, as the Eagles would be moving off a contract that currently spans three years for $96 million, with $84 million guaranteed. The dead-cap hit would be over $43 million if traded before June 1, or $16 million in 2026 and $27 million in 2027 if traded after.
From a cap perspective, it’s a tricky situation, but moving on seems like the best option for all parties involved.
Additionally, Dallas Goedert will need to be re-signed, as his contract has expired. It seems likely the Eagles will want to retain their longtime tight end.
Lastly, there’s the Jalen Hurts situation.
It almost feels like beating a dead horse, given how the Philadelphia media has turned on their Super Bowl MVP quarterback.
Personally, the idea that Hurts underperforms and isn’t the true conductor of this offense, just a passenger, is a point I’ve hammered home for years.
Now, his skill set or lack there of, has become the leading topic on nearly every radio show and podcast in Philadelphia, day after day.
In 2024, his offensive line and running game masked his struggles with throwing over the middle, taking risks, willingness to run, reading defenses, and decision-making overall.
In 2025, those struggles were on full display, so much so that some fans wanted to see Tanner McKee take snaps.
Is that over the top? Absolutely. But it only reinforces the reality that Hurts is not the all-world quarterback many once made him out to be.
But Hurts is certainly a top-15 quarterback, capable of playing winning football come January if the situation is right.
So, is Philadelphia an attractive offensive coordinator job?
Simply put: no. There’s more downside than upside.
First, as I mentioned, there are glaring issues with the roster.
Jobs like the Ravens or Bills are more intriguing by having a top-5 quarterback.
Tennessee has a young QB in Cam Ward, offering someone the chance to develop a signal-caller from the ground up.
On the other hand, Cleveland, Arizona, Las Vegas, and Pittsburgh are all clearly worse situations than Philadelphia.
The offensive coordinator will need to believe in Hurts and help him grow; if they have doubts, it simply won’t work.
From a roster perspective alone, I’d say it’s a middle-of-the-pack opportunity for an offensive coordinator.
But unfortunately, an OC job involves much more than just the roster on paper.
Secondly, this position comes with immense pressure, Philadelphia is arguably one of the toughest cities to coach in, regardless of the sport. If you’re not winning, the fanbase wants you out.
Or worse, they might egg your house, as Kevin Patullo had to endure this past season.
Combine that with a head coach in Nick Sirianni who could be on the hot seat if 2026 doesn’t start well, or if the offense struggles, and the new OC could be out of a job just as quickly as he got it.
Moreover, it’s an awkward spot to be in. In cities like Cleveland, Arizona, Las Vegas, or Pittsburgh, you usually get at least three years to try to turn things around.
In Philadelphia, that luxury doesn’t exist.
I find this job attractive only if you thrive under harsh conditions, some coaches perform best under pressure. If the Eagles find someone like that, it could be a perfect fit.
But with the high-profile candidates already off the board, who will Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni turn to?
Potential Candidates
News broke early this morning that former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has accepted the offensive coordinator position with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Eagles had conducted a Zoom interview with McDaniel, but he ultimately chose to join Harbaugh and Herbert in Los Angeles.
Later on Wednesday, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, “The Eagles are conducting their offensive coordinator search with the understanding that Brian Daboll wants Bills’ head coaching job. If he doesn’t land it, Daboll is expected to wind up in Tennessee as the offensive coordinator for Cam Ward and the Titans, per sources.”
So, in most people’s eyes, the two top candidates to get the Eagles’ offense clicking again are now off the board.
Personally, I thought Daboll would have been the ideal fit, so it’s unfortunate that he doesn’t seem to view this as a top option.
Other candidates I’d consider are former Bills OC Joe Brady and former Texans OC Bobby Slowik.
Brady got the most out of Josh Allen, leading him to an MVP season in 2024 in his first year as play-caller. In 2025, he guided James Cook to a career year in the backfield, helping the offense rank among the top four units in the league.
He could certainly get Hurts back on a Pro Bowl track while revamping the running attack.
As for Bobby Slowik, he was a head coaching candidate after CJ Stroud’s Rookie of the Year season in 2023, but was let go following the 2024 season after Stroud took a step back, a regression that seems to be continuing.
He spent the 2025 season as the Dolphins’ senior passing game coordinator under Mike McDaniel.
Being part of the Shanahan coaching tree, Slowik will likely get another opportunity to call plays, and the Eagles could benefit from his approach to aggressive, early-down offense.
Other names circulating in the media include Mike Kafka (former Giants OC), Kliff Kingsbury (former Commanders OC), Davis Webb (Broncos pass game coordinator), and Zac Robinson (former Falcons OC).
If I had to make a guess, I’d lean toward Mike Kafka as the Eagles next offensive coordinator.
I’d imagine that’s the safest gamble. Kafka is familiar with Philadelphia, having game-planned against them twice a year.
If he can succeed with Hurts and the offense, there’s a strong chance he could attract head coaching opportunities down the line, or, who knows, he might step up in Philadelphia if Jeffery Lurie decides to end the Sirianni era midway through the season should things go sideways.
Final Thoughts
It will be interesting to see how the dominoes fall in the coming days, as the Eagles are expected to secure a candidate by the end of the month to get someone in the building.
It seems coaches are increasingly hesitant about the opening, which says a lot about Nick Sirianni as a head coach, Jalen Hurts as the quarterback, and the overall environment of the Philadelphia Eagles.
They’ll eventually find a candidate, but as the days go by, the job looks like a lose-lose situation unless the coordinator is perfect, a scenario that isn’t realistic.
In my opinion, drastic changes are likely coming to the Eagles within the next year or so.
For more NFL content, follow me on Twitter @MontaltoJared, on TikTok @JarSportsTakes, and on YouTube @PickSwapMedia.
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