After a two-and-a-half-week search that included a long list of seasoned candidates, the Philadelphia Eagles have made their pick for offensive coordinator - and it’s a bold one. The job goes to Sean Mannion, the 33-year-old Packers quarterbacks coach who brings just two years of coaching experience but a decade-long NFL playing career and a fast-rising reputation.
Mannion steps in to replace Kevin Patullo, who was let go shortly after the Eagles' playoff loss to the 49ers. Patullo lasted just one season calling plays, and now the reins are handed to a coach who’s never done it before at any level.
That’s not a knock - it’s a challenge. And it’s one the Eagles believe Mannion is ready to meet.
A Quick Climb From Clipboard to Coordinator
Mannion’s journey is unconventional, but it’s not without substance. Drafted in the third round back in 2015, he spent nine seasons bouncing around the NFL - Rams, Vikings, Seahawks, repeat - mostly as a backup quarterback.
He played in 14 games, started three, and posted a modest career stat line. But what he lacked in on-field production, he made up for in preparation, leadership, and football IQ - traits that clearly stood out to coaches like Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur.
After retiring following the 2023 season, Mannion joined the Packers as an offensive assistant and was quickly promoted to quarterbacks coach when Tom Clements retired. In that role, he worked directly with Jordan Love, who made a major leap this past season.
Love completed 66% of his passes, threw 23 touchdowns to just six picks, and posted a 101.2 passer rating - sixth-best in the league among quarterbacks with at least 10 starts. That kind of development doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and Mannion’s fingerprints were on it.
Sirianni Sees the Vision
Head coach Nick Sirianni made it clear this wasn’t a rushed hire. The Eagles cast a wide net, interviewing a mix of veteran play-callers and young, up-and-coming minds. In Mannion, Sirianni saw a coach who stood out - not because of what he’s done, but because of how he thinks.
“It was quickly apparent in meeting with Sean that he is a bright young coach with a tremendous future ahead of him in this league,” Sirianni said in a statement. “I was impressed by his systematic views on offensive football and his strategic approach.”
That’s high praise, especially considering the Eagles reportedly pursued some big names before landing Mannion. The list of candidates they spoke with or targeted includes Brian Daboll, Charlie Weis Jr., Bobby Slowik, Klayton Adams, Zac Robinson, Mike Kafka, Arthur Smith - and that’s just scratching the surface. At the end of the day, Sirianni went with the coach who felt like the right fit, not necessarily the biggest résumé.
A McVay-LaFleur Disciple
Mannion’s coaching roots trace back to his playing days under Sean McVay in Los Angeles, where he backed up Jared Goff during the Rams’ 2017 and 2018 seasons. LaFleur was also on that Rams staff, and it’s clear both head coaches saw something in Mannion beyond the stat sheet.
“We’re lucky to have him,” LaFleur said last year. “I really do think this guy’s going to have a bright future for us and in the coaching profession.”
That future is now. Despite never calling plays, Mannion impressed enough to earn a shot at one of the most high-profile offensive coordinator jobs in the NFL.
And while that lack of play-calling experience will raise eyebrows, it’s worth noting that Sirianni himself has been heavily involved in the Eagles’ offensive game planning and play design. The Eagles aren’t handing the keys to a rookie coach and walking away - they’re building a collaborative structure around him.
A New Voice for Jalen Hurts
Mannion becomes the fifth offensive coordinator of the Sirianni era and, more importantly, the seventh play-caller Jalen Hurts will have worked with since entering the league. That’s a lot of turnover for a young quarterback, and stability is going to be key moving forward.
The Eagles are betting that Mannion can provide that - not just with scheme, but with communication, preparation, and quarterback development. He’s walked in those shoes.
He knows what it’s like to be in the film room, on the sideline, and in the huddle. That’s a perspective you can’t teach.
Now, he’ll be tasked with helping Hurts bounce back from a rocky end to the 2025 season and guiding an offense that still boasts top-end talent but needs a fresh spark.
What’s Next
Mannion’s hire marks a turning point for the Eagles - not just in terms of who’s calling the plays, but how they’re thinking about their offensive identity. After a year of inconsistency and underperformance, they’ve chosen a coach with a modern approach, a quarterback’s mindset, and a reputation for connecting with players.
It’s a gamble, sure. But it’s also a swing for upside - and in today’s NFL, that’s often where the biggest wins come from.
Now it’s on Mannion to prove the Eagles right.