The Philadelphia Eagles came into this offseason swinging for the fences in their search for a new offensive coordinator, reportedly targeting two of the biggest names available: Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll. But as of now, it looks like they’ve come up empty on both fronts.
McDaniel is reportedly heading west to join the Los Angeles Chargers, while Daboll is weighing his next move between the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching vacancy and the offensive coordinator role in Tennessee. That Titans job just got more intriguing too, with Robert Saleh-formerly the 49ers’ defensive coordinator-taking over as head coach. That hire likely means Tennessee’s next OC will have full autonomy to shape the offense, a level of control that may not be guaranteed in Philadelphia.
That’s a key detail here. The Eagles’ offensive coordinator position doesn’t necessarily come with the same freedom to design and call plays. That could be a sticking point for high-profile candidates who want to put their stamp on an offense without having to navigate too much organizational oversight.
So now, the Eagles are back to the drawing board. The list of known candidates still in the mix remains fluid, and while names like Joe Brady could still enter the conversation, the current pool doesn’t quite carry the same weight as McDaniel or Daboll.
Still, let’s not forget: this franchise has been here before. Doug Pederson wasn’t the top choice when he was hired.
Neither was Nick Sirianni. And yet, both of those hires delivered Super Bowl appearances-Pederson with a win, Sirianni with a near-miss.
So while missing out on their top targets may sting, it doesn’t mean the Eagles are destined for disappointment.
That said, there’s no sugarcoating the reality: the Eagles aimed high and missed. Whoever they hire next will have to prove they can elevate this offense and work within the structure that the organization has in place. The pressure will be on-not just to fill a role, but to reignite a unit that’s expected to contend at the highest level.