A new-look Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff is coming into the 2023 Eagles NFL season with high hopes of returning to the big game. Shane Steichen was hired as the Colts head coach and Jonathan Gannon as the Cardinals’ head coach just days after losing Super Bowl 57.
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history. Still, there’s a lot of room for improvement when it comes to drawing up a winning coaching scheme, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Jonathan Gannon’s soft and simple scheme couldn’t get the job done, so many fans hope Sean Desai comes in with a more aggressive approach and a more creative, second-level scheme. It’ll be particularly interesting to see what the team does on both sides of the ball and how the schemes might look different next season.
2023 Philadelphia Eagles Coaching Staff
Nick Sirianni – Head Coach
Nick Sirianni grew up in western New York and played football at Division III powerhouse Mount Union College. After college, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Mount Union. From there, he coached at various colleges, including Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the University of Mount Union, and the University of Kansas.
Nick Sirianni was named head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2021. He came to the Eagles after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020. Before that, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Chargers from 2014 to 2017. Sirianni’s coaching philosophy emphasizes fundamentals and technique. He is known for his attention to detail and his ability to develop young players.
Since joining the Eagles in 2021, Sirianni has impressed Eagles fans with the amount of success he has been able to achieve is such a short amount of time. In his rookie year as head coach, Nick led the Birds to the playoffs with a 9-8 record. In his second year as head coach, his Eagles team finished the season at 14-3, clinching the number one seed in the NFL and ending the season with a Super Bowl 57 loss.
This season, Sirianni hopes to continue to improve as a head coach and lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl 58 championship.
Eagles Offensive Coaching Staff
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Johnson
Brian Johnson joined the Eagles in 2021. After two seasons as the teams quarterbacks coach, Johnson was promoted to Offensive Coordinator after the 2022 season.
Johnson grew up in Baytown, Texas, and played college football at the University of Utah. He was the starting quarterback for the Utes from 2004 to 2008, and he led the team to an undefeated season in 2008. After college, Johnson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Utah. He has also worked as an assistant coach at various colleges, including Mississippi State, Houston, and Florida.
Johnson is known for his ability to develop young quarterbacks. He worked closely with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during the offseason, helping him refine his mechanics and improve his decision-making.
Quarterbacks Coach: Alex Tanney
Alex Tanney is a former NFL quarterback who is currently serving as the Eagles quarterbacks coach after Brian Johnson got promoted to OC. Tanney played for various teams in the NFL, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants. After retiring from playing, he joined the Giants coaching staff in 2020. In his current role, Tanney will work closely with the Jalen Hurts and Eagles offensive coaches, helping to develop game plans and analyze opponent tendencies.
Pass Game Coordinator: Kevin Patullo
Kevin Patullo is the pass game coordinator for the Eagles. He was previously the wide receivers coach for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020. Before that, he served as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets. Patullo grew up in Stony Point, New York, and played college football at Hofstra University. He began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at Hofstra in 2002. He has also worked as an assistant coach at various colleges, including the University of Buffalo and Coastal Carolina.
Patullo is known for his ability to develop wide receivers. He has worked with several talented receivers over the course of his career, including T.Y. Hilton, AJ Brown and Michael Pittman Jr. With the Eagles, he has played a key role in the development of rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Offensive Line Coach: Jeff Stoutland
Jeff Stoutland is considered one of the NFL’s best position coaches (if not THE BEST) due to his impressive track record of developing offensive linemen. He has been coaching offensive lines for 39 years at both the college and NFL levels. Stoutland is one of only five offensive line coaches to produce Pro Bowlers in at least nine consecutive years with the same team. I know Chip Kelly is very popular in Philly, but he was part of bringing Jeff Stoutland here in 2013.
Stoutland has He’s helped mold some of the best Eagles offensive linemen in franchise history, including Pro Bowlers like Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Evan Mathis, Brandon Brooks and Jason Peters – having 17 Pro Bowls between them. He is also known for his ability to adapt to different schemes and effectively coach linemen with varying skill sets. Stoutland’s attention to detail and ability to motivate his players have earned him a reputation as one of the best in the business.
Wide Receivers Coach – Aaron Moorehead
Aaron Moorehead is a former NFL wide receiver who is currently the wide receivers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. Moorehead played in the NFL from 2003 to 2008 for the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals. After retiring from playing, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech. He has also worked as an assistant coach at various colleges, including Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. Moorehead is known for his ability to develop wide receivers and has played a key role in the development of the Eagles’ young receiving corps, including first-round pick DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown.
Tight Ends Coach – Jason Michael
Jason Michael is the tight ends coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has extensive coaching experience in the NFL, having served as an assistant coach for several teams, including the Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, and Arizona Cardinals. Michael has also worked as an offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans and the University of Tennessee. Under Michael’s guidance, former Eagles TE Zach Ertz established himself as the best Eagles Tight End of all time and future HOF’er, while current Eagles TE, Dallas Goedert has shown to be one of the NFL’s best at his position
Eagles Defensive Coaching Staff
Defensive Coordinator – Sean Desai
Sean Desai is an NFL coach who currently serves as the new defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Before coming to Philly, Sean has spent his entire professional coaching career with the Bears, starting as a coaching assistant in 2013 and working his way up the ranks. Desai has a strong background in football, having played college football at Boston College and then coaching at various levels before landing with the Bears. He is highly regarded by his peers and has been praised for his intelligence, work ethic, and attention to detail. Desai is also known for his ability to connect with players and build strong relationships, which has helped him succeed in his role as a defensive coordinator.
Defensive Line Coach: Tracy Rocker
Tracy Rocker is the defensive line coach for the Eagles. He came to Philadelphia after serving as the defensive line coach for South Carolina in 2020. Before that, he was the defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans.
Rocker grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and played college football at Auburn University. He was a two-time All-American and won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman in 1988. After college, he played in the NFL for two seasons before beginning his coaching career.
Rocker is known for his ability to develop defensive linemen. He has coached several successful NFL defensive linemen over the course of his career, including Nick Fairley, Dee Ford, and Derrick Brown. With the Eagles, he has played a key role in the development of young defensive linemen like Josh Sweat, Reddick and Milton Williams.
Linebackers Coach – D.J. Eliot
D.J. Eliot is the current Eagles linebackers coach and former defensive coordinator for the University of Kansas Jayhawks football team. He was born on March 20, 1976, in Edmond, Oklahoma. Eliot played college football at the University of Wyoming and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Houston in 2003. He has since held coaching positions at various universities, including Florida State, Kentucky, and Colorado. Eliot also had a brief stint in the NFL as a defensive quality control coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. He is known for his expertise in defensive coaching and has received several accolades for his work, including being named a “Rising Star” by 247Sports in 2015.
Defensive Ends Coach – Jeremiah Washburn
Jeremiah Washburn enters his fourth overall year with the Philadelphia and first as the team’s defensive ends/outside linebackers coach. He previously served as a senior defensive assistant from 2020-21. His influence is part of the reason the Eagles posted 70 sacks as a team in 2022. That’s a franchise record, and third-most in NFL history (1984 Bears, 72; 1989 Vikings, 71).
Washburn played college football at the University of Arkansas and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1999. He has since held coaching positions at various universities, including the University of North Texas and Texas A&M. Washburn also had a long stint in the NFL as an offensive line coach for teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens. He is known for his expertise in offensive line coaching and has helped develop several successful NFL linemen throughout his career.
Special Teams Coordinator: Michael Clay
Michael Clay is the special teams coordinator for the Eagles. He came to Philadelphia after serving as the assistant special teams coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. Before that, he was the assistant special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins.
Clay grew up in San Jose, California, and played college football at Oregon. After college, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent and played two seasons with the team as a linebacker and special teams player. After retiring from playing, Clay began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon. He has also worked as an assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.
As special teams coordinator, Clay oversees all aspects of the Eagles’ special teams unit, including kick and punt coverage, return teams, and kicking and punting.
NFL Coaching Staff FAQ
Q: What is the typical size of an NFL coaching staff?
A: The typical size of an NFL coaching staff varies, but it usually consists of around 20-25 coaches, including the head coach, coordinators, position coaches, and other support staff.
Q: What is the role of an NFL head coach?
A: The head coach is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the team, including game planning, practice schedules, player personnel decisions, and hiring and firing coaches. They are also responsible for making in-game decisions, such as calling plays and managing the clock.
Q: What is the role of an NFL offensive coordinator?
A: The offensive coordinator is responsible for designing and implementing the team’s offensive game plan, which includes play-calling, player positioning, and adjusting the game plan as necessary during the game.
Q: What is the role of an NFL defensive coordinator?
A: The defensive coordinator is responsible for designing and implementing the team’s defensive game plan, which includes identifying the opposing team’s strengths and weaknesses, creating defensive schemes, and making in-game adjustments as necessary.
Q: What is the role of an NFL special teams coordinator?
A: The special teams coordinator is responsible for overseeing the team’s special teams units, including kickoffs, punts, and field goals. They also work with the head coach to develop strategies for special teams play and make in-game adjustments as necessary.
Q: What is the role of an NFL position coach?
A: The position coach is responsible for coaching and developing a specific group of players, such as quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, or defensive linemen. They work with the players to improve their skills and technique and develop game plans specific to their positions.
Q: What is the role of an NFL strength and conditioning coach?
A: The strength and conditioning coach is responsible for developing and implementing strength and conditioning programs to help players improve their physical fitness and prevent injuries. They work closely with the team’s medical staff to monitor players’ health and fitness levels.
Q: What is the role of an NFL assistant coach?
A: The assistant coach works with the head coach and other coaches to develop game plans, analyze game footage, and provide input on player personnel decisions. They may also have specific responsibilities, such as working with the offensive or defensive coordinator or coaching a specific position group.