Staley a fast front-runner in Birds’ coaching search

One clear candidate has emerged for the Eagles’ head coaching vacancy – assistant head coach Duce Staley.

Owner Jef frey Lurie put Staley’s name out a few hours after dismissing Doug Pederson after a 4-11-1 season, his worst in a five-year tour that included a Super Bowl title in 2018.

“I think that we are very open and it’s top of mind to make sure we have some of the best minority candidates in on the search,” Lurie said during a videoconference Monday. “It’s very important, I think, for us, for the league and it’s top of mind. I would expect

Duce Staley to be a candidate. He’s a great representative of the Eagles. Knows our values. I would expect him to be part of the search as well.”

Staley, 45, is a former Eagles running back who also currently serves as running backs coach. He has been an Eagles assistant for 10 years after serving a oneyear internship coming after he retired as a player.

Staley is African-American.

“I’ve never hesitated in this area,” Lurie said. “Obviously, I’ve hired an AfricanAmerican as a head coach (Ray Rhodes), and I’m proud of it because he was the right man for the job at the time. There’s plenty of possible candidates in this area.”

Lurie hired Rhodes in 1995. He was fired after a dismal 1998 season. The Eagles reached the playoffs in each of Rhodes’ first two seasons. They defeated Barry Sanders and the Detroit Lions in the wild card round after the 1995 season.

The Eagles also are expected to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who is

African-American. Former Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka, now quarterbacks coach of the Chiefs, is also a candidate, according to the NFL Network.

So, too, is Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, according to sources. Riley coached Hurts with the Sooners and recommended that the Birds draft wide receiver Jalen Reagor.