The Philadelphia Eagles are turning the page on offense, and they’re doing it with a bold, unconventional hire: Sean Mannion is stepping in as the team’s new offensive coordinator. It’s a move that’s already catching attention - not just for Mannion’s age or experience level, but for the potential upside he brings to a team that isn’t in rebuild mode, but in reload mode.
Nick Foles, the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII MVP and a guy who knows a thing or two about navigating Philly’s high-pressure football environment, gave Mannion a strong endorsement this week on his podcast. Foles and Mannion crossed paths after Foles’ first stint in Philadelphia, and even back then, the former quarterback saw something different in the young signal-caller out of Oregon State.
“He was a very impressive rookie,” Foles said. “One of the more impressive rookies I've ever been around.”
That’s high praise, especially coming from a veteran quarterback who’s shared quarterback rooms with plenty of young players. Mannion may not have had the on-field success some hoped for when he entered the league as a third-round pick, but what he lacked in playing time, he made up for with his football IQ and relentless preparation.
“You could tell right away with his work ethic, his knowledge of football at that point,” Foles added. “Honestly, it always seemed like he had a photographic memory.
Either that or he was just constantly studying - flash cards, whatever it was. He was really diligent.”
That mental sharpness is now being put to the test in a big way. After a short but impressive coaching rise - from offensive assistant with the Packers in 2024 to quarterbacks coach in 2025 - Mannion now finds himself at the helm of the Eagles’ offense. He takes over for Kevin Patullo, who lasted just one season in the role.
It’s a unique hire, no doubt. At 33, Mannion is stepping into one of the most scrutinized jobs in one of the NFL’s most passionate markets.
This isn’t a developmental year for Philly. This is a team with playoff expectations and a fanbase that demands results.
The pressure is real, and the leash tends to be short - just ask the last two OCs, both of whom lasted only a single season. One of them, Kellen Moore, parlayed a Super Bowl win into a head coaching job with the Saints.
The other, Patullo, didn’t get that kind of ending.
So yes, the Eagles’ offensive coordinator job is high-risk, high-reward. But if Mannion can translate his football mind into a cohesive, productive offense, he could be the next young coaching star to rise quickly through the NFL ranks.
For now, he’s got the backing of a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and a shot to make his mark. The Eagles are betting on upside - and if Mannion’s preparation and football intellect are as sharp as Foles says, that bet just might pay off.