Eagles Offensive Line coach, Jeff Stoutland, is known around the league as the NFL’s best positions coach, and for good reason. It doesn’t matter if his players are undrafted free agents or first-round picks. No matter who he has at his disposal, Stoutland makes it work at the highest possible level. He is a true wizard with NFL tackles, guards, and centers.
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. Stoutland has earned his own Super Bowl ring, and has been part of the Philadelphia Eagles for such a long time now, but what do we really know about the best positional coach in the NFL?
If he’s not already, Jeff Stoutland needs to be a household name in and around the Philadelphia area for the impact that he has had on this Eagles franchise since he joined the team. So, we decided to write an Eagles Feature Article on the man, the myth, and the legend… Jeff Stoutland.
Who Is Jeff Stoutland?
Jeff Stoutland is 60 years old and was raised in Staten Island, New York. The New York Giants could benefit from his talents, but luckily they’re not! Take that, New York!
Before Stoutland began coaching football, he was a 3-year starter at linebacker at Southern Connecticut State, where he later became the linebackers coach. It made sense early on that he would understand the play of offensive linemen, given he lined up against them for multiple years.
In the 90s, he would switch to offense, becoming the offensive coordinator at Southern Connecticut. With a full grasp of the offensive side of the ball under his belt, Stoutland became an offensive line coach at Cornell University in 1993 and never looked back. He kept the same position at Syracuse University, Michigan State, the University of Miami, and the University of Alabama before coming to the NFL.
I know it pains Eagles fans to thank Chip Kelly for anything, but he was part of bringing Jeff Stoutland here in 2013! Thank you, Chip!
Stoutland, who has been here ever since, has experienced three different coaching regimes and helped win a Super Bowl in 2017. After the 2020 season, it was rumored that he’d return to Alabama. He chose to stay in Philadelphia as a part of Nick Sirianni’s staff as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
At present moment he is the longest-tenured position coach on the Eagles, in his 10th season on this 4-0 Eagles team. Many GM’s around the league think so highly of Stoutland; we’re sure he has received a few phone calls regarding interviews for head coaching jobs, but Stoutland is dedicated to his team and his players.
How happy are we that he didn’t go back to Alabama or become a head coach somewhere? He loves Philadelphia, and we certainly love him!
The Offensive Line Under Stoutland Over Time
Under Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles’ offensive line has been very successful. He’s seen three coaching regimes with multiple offensive linemen and still created amazing results. It hasn’t hurt that he’s been surrounded by a plethora of pro-bowl talent.
In the Chip Kelly era, he had Evan Mathis, Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, and Todd Herremans, and played a big role in developing Jason Kelce.
Brandon Brooks, who became an Eagle in 2016, did not have a pro bowl in his career before being coached by Stoutland.
- That’s an honor Brooks received three times, showing Stoutland’s ability to take a good offensive lineman and make them great.
In 2017, he coached Halapoulivaati Vaitai up.
- Vaitai duplicated Jason Peters’s quality of play and kept the offensive line intact during a Super Bowl run.
- Stoutland was key in the development of Issac Seumalo, who came into his own at the guard position and became a starter in 2018.
In 2018, Jordan Mailata was drafted in the 7th round.
- He had limited football experience, playing rugby his entire life.
- His rugby coaches thought he would be a great fit for football, so he gave it a shot.
- Under Stoutland’s coaching, Mailata has become one of the best young offensive tackles in the NFL, earning a starting role in 2020.
- We’re still waiting to see what Landon Dickerson will be, but he has great potential.
Role players like Jack Driscoll and Nate Herbig have done a more than serviceable job under Stoutland’s coaching as well. Rookie center Cam Jurgens hasn’t had meaningful regular-season snaps but showed similar qualities to his predecessor Jason Kelce in the preseason.
It’s clear that Jeff Stoutland makes the most out of his tackles, guards, and centers, and knows how to shift pieces and adjust during periods of injury. His offensive lines are so dominant, they are responsible for great rushing performances from several Eagles rosters over the years.
- In his first season (2013), the Eagles were the #1 ranked rushing offense in the NFL.
- In 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2021, the Eagles had a top-10 rushing offense.
- In 2015, 2016, and 2019, they were top 15.
- Four games through the Eagles 2022 schedule, the Birds are 5th in rushing, bringing out the best in a rejuvenated Miles Sanders.
A good rushing offense is almost a guarantee with Stoutland. Howie Roseman also deserves an honorable mention, consistently drafting and signing offensive linemen and giving Stoutland a lot to work with. Depth has been key to his success!
Stoutland’s Influence
We all remember the amazing speech Kelce made during the 2017 Super Bowl Champion Parade, where he mentioned, “Hungry dogs run faster.” Well, believe it or not, that notorious quote is from the legend himself, Jeff Stoutland. This message is a big part of the city, and it’s what the offensive line room and team live by to this day.
Stoutland is known for being tough yet charismatic but takes no nonsense. For that, he commands respect from his players. His attention to detail is something he likes to drive home, something he stated when he arrived in Philadelphia in 2013. He also leans on his players when he needs to, even referring to Jason Kelce as another coach.
Earlier this week, Kelce was asked about Stoutland’s greatest strength.
“His intensity, his passion and his energy. I cannot believe (it.) Sometimes you’re in awe of how much energy he brings every … single … day. He just never stops coaching. It’s just so jaw-dropping, the amount of endurance he has to coach people, and I think that’s why you see backups go in the game and play well. He just can’t help himself. It’s just kind of like he was made to be an offensive line coach.”
Stoutland is also praised for his adjustments, something we’ve witnessed live in games. The latest example is Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars when Jordan Mailata and Issac Seumalo left the game with injuries.
- Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta filled in, and the offensive line’s play improved as both players settled in and got more comfortable.
- The Eagles rushing offense and run-blocking thrived in the second half, and pass protection improved.
- Stoutland’s coaching capabilities put Eagles fans and media at ease, knowing that the offensive line can miss players at any time and still function.
Nick Sirianni gave Jeff Stoutland the highest praise, calling him the:
“best offensive line coach he has ever worked with”.
He represents toughness, perseverance, and doesn’t flinch in the face of adversity. That mindset is what Philadelphia is all about, and he couldn’t be a more perfect fit.
Howie, can you give Jeff Stoutland a lifetime contract, please?
