The Philadelphia Eagles made waves this week with a bold, outside-the-box move: hiring former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion as their new offensive coordinator. It’s a decision that turned heads around the league-and not just because Mannion’s name wasn’t on many shortlists. But dig a little deeper, and you start to see why the Eagles believe they may have found a rising star.
Mannion’s coaching resume may be short, but the praise is loud and consistent. Over the last two seasons in Green Bay, he earned strong endorsements from coaches, players, and now even former teammates.
One of the more notable voices? Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles, who shared his thoughts on Mannion during an episode of his podcast, The SZN with Nick Foles and Evan Moore.
Foles and Mannion go back to their time with the St. Louis Rams in 2015, when Mannion was a rookie QB. And according to Foles, the young signal-caller made a lasting impression.
“Very impressive rookie,” Foles said. “One of the more impressive rookies I’ve ever been around.
You could tell right away-his work ethic, his knowledge of football. Honestly, he always sort of… I don’t know if he lied to me when he said it, but he had a photographic memory.
Either that or he was constantly studying, prepping, flashcards, whatever it was-he was really diligent.”
That kind of attention to detail is already paying off in his coaching career. Mannion may not have lit up the stat sheet as a player-he threw for 573 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions over his NFL career-but his impact on the sidelines is a different story.
In his first year as a quarterbacks coach in 2025, Mannion helped guide Jordan Love to the best season of his career. Love completed 66.3% of his passes, the second-best mark of his career, and threw just six interceptions over a full 15-game starting slate-a career low.
That kind of efficiency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of preparation, communication, and trust between coach and quarterback, and Mannion delivered on all three.
What makes Mannion’s rise even more intriguing is the coaching lineage he brings with him. He’s worked under some of the sharpest offensive minds in the game-Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur among them.
That experience, combined with his own years as a backup quarterback, gives him a unique lens into the game. He’s seen it from the sideline, in the film room, and now, from the headset.
Sure, there’s risk. Mannion hasn’t called plays at the NFL level.
He’s stepping into one of the most scrutinized positions in Philadelphia sports. And yes, Eagles fans are justified in feeling a little anxious after a season where the offense lost its rhythm and identity down the stretch.
But this hire isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about tapping into potential-something the Eagles clearly believe Mannion has in spades. He’s climbed the coaching ladder quickly, and now he gets his shot to steer one of the league’s most talented rosters back on course.
If Mannion can translate his football IQ, preparation habits, and quarterback-first mindset into play-calling success, this could turn out to be one of the savviest moves of the offseason. The Eagles are betting on upside-and if the early signs are any indication, it might just pay off.