Kevin Patullo is in the eye of the storm right now-and not the kind you ride out with a strong fourth-quarter finish. The Eagles’ offensive coordinator is having what might be the toughest week of anyone in the NFL this season, and the pressure isn’t just coming from the scoreboard.
After stepping into the OC role following Kellen Moore’s departure to become the Saints’ head coach, Patullo was handed the keys to one of the league’s most talented offenses. But instead of revving up, the engine’s been sputtering. And in a city like Philadelphia, where football is religion and expectations are sky-high, that kind of stall doesn’t go unnoticed.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about one or two bad play calls. When Philly wins, fans still find a way to question why it wasn’t by more.
If A.J. Brown vents to the media, somehow that falls on Patullo.
If Saquon Barkley doesn’t look like the player he was in 2024, fingers point to the OC. Fair or not, Patullo has become the lightning rod for everything going wrong in an Eagles offense that, on paper, should be one of the most dynamic in the league.
The criticism has gotten so loud that head coach Nick Sirianni felt the need to publicly defend his longtime assistant. Sirianni and Patullo go back years-Patullo served as the team’s pass game coordinator when Sirianni first took over in Philly.
That trust hasn’t wavered, even as the offense has. After back-to-back losses and a unit that looks more like a stalled-out drive than a high-powered machine, Sirianni stood firm: no coaching changes are coming.
But that hasn’t quieted the noise. In fact, it’s only amplified it.
Following the Eagles’ latest defeat, a group of fans took things way too far. In a moment that crossed the line from passionate to unacceptable, they showed up at Patullo’s home-throwing insults, and even rocks, while filming the incident and calling for him to resign. It was a disturbing escalation that reminded everyone there’s a line between criticism and harassment-and this crossed it.
Patullo addressed the incident on Wednesday with the kind of calm you’d hope for from a leader under fire.
“This is a great sports town,” he said. “I have loved coaching and living here for the last five years. I get there will be criticism… When it involves your family, it obviously crosses the line.”
It’s a difficult moment, no question. But Patullo’s response speaks volumes about his professionalism and perspective. He’s not ducking the heat, but he’s making it clear that some lines shouldn’t be crossed-especially when family is involved.
Now, the only way forward is through. The Eagles are heading west this weekend to face the Chargers, hoping to leave the noise behind and get back to what they do best: playing football. For Patullo, it’s a chance to quiet the critics the only way that matters-by getting the offense back on track and the team back in the win column.
Because in this league, and especially in Philly, the only thing louder than the boos is a bounce-back win.