The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into one of their most pivotal offseasons in recent memory-and not just because of what happened on the field. Yes, this was a playoff team in 2025, but the turbulence behind the scenes has been impossible to ignore. From locker room tension to major coaching changes and looming retirements, it’s been a whirlwind few months in South Philly.
Let’s start with the drama that’s been swirling around star wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Multiple reports suggest he requested a trade-more than once-during the 2025 season. That’s not the kind of noise you want coming from one of your top offensive weapons.
Add to that whispers about players being frustrated with the leadership’s unwillingness to publicly hold quarterback Jalen Hurts accountable, and you’ve got a locker room that feels more unsettled than united.
Then there’s the coaching carousel. Sean Mannion, just 33 years old and with only two years of coaching experience, is stepping in as the new offensive coordinator.
He replaces Kevin Patullo, whose offense sputtered throughout the 2025 season. Mannion comes over from Green Bay, where he worked as the quarterbacks coach, and brings with him a background shaped by Sean McVay’s modern, motion-heavy offensive philosophy.
It’s a bold hire-and one that signals a clear intent to overhaul what had become a predictable and underwhelming attack.
On the defensive side, Vic Fangio nearly called it quits but ultimately agreed to return for one more year. That’s a win for continuity, but it also raises questions about the long-term vision.
And the trenches are facing their own shake-up: longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is out after 13 seasons, and both Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson are mulling retirement. For a team that has long prided itself on dominating the line of scrimmage, that’s a massive shift.
So, where does that leave the Eagles heading into 2026?
ESPN slotted them in at No. 8 in their post-Super Bowl power rankings, and beat reporter Tim McManus summed up the offseason challenge in three words: Unlock the offense.
And he’s not wrong. Despite boasting one of the most expensive offensive units in the NFL, the Eagles ranked just 21st in points per game (21.1) and 19th in offensive efficiency last season.
Even more concerning? They led the league in three-and-outs.
That’s not just underperforming-that’s wasting talent.
The numbers back it up across the board. Philly finished in the bottom half of the league in total offense, passing, rushing, and scoring.
That’s a clean sweep of mediocrity for a team that was built to contend. So, yes, change was inevitable.
Mannion’s arrival signals a philosophical shift. Gone are the days of conservative play-calling-hitch routes on third-and-long, predictable inside runs on first and second down while nursing a lead.
Expect more motion, more play-action, more creativity. The Eagles want to be less predictable and more explosive, and they’re betting on a young, innovative coach to lead that transformation.
Of course, with change comes uncertainty. Will A.J.
Brown still be wearing midnight green come Week 1? Can Mannion translate McVay’s concepts into real production with this group?
And how will Hurts respond to a system that asks more of him as a distributor and decision-maker?
These are big questions, but they’re the kind of questions that come with high expectations. The Eagles aren’t rebuilding-they’re retooling. And if they get the offense right, they could be right back in the thick of the NFC title hunt.
So yes, it’s been a chaotic offseason. But it might just be the kind of chaos this team needed.