Both Eagles coordinators land head coaching jobs
INDIANAPOLIS — Two days after almost leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon have new jobs.
Steichen was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, while Gannon accepted the same position with the Arizona Caridnals.
In Indianapolis, owner Jim Irsay ended a monthlong search that included interviews with more than a dozen candidates by hiring the 37-year-old first-time head coach who has a penchant for turning promising young quarterbacks into stars.
“We felt Shane had a lot of that offensive magic that can be hard to find, knowing we're going to have a young quarterback to develop,” Irsay said. “He had a presence, and boy did it come through. Also his mind, thinking multiple things at once, disseminating those things quickly, I think he has a special mind for football.”
Steichen becomes the second straight former Eagles offensive coordinator to make a Super Bowl run and then leave days later for Indianapolis. Frank Reich took the same path in 2018 after Philadelphia won its first championship since 1960.
Reich was fired in October as the Colts' season started to unravel and was replaced by interim coach Jeff Saturday, who won his first game but lost the final seven.
Indy certainly needs a new perspective — and some stability — after missing the playoffs each of the past two seasons.
Steichen becomes the Colts' fourth coach since 2017, and they're likely to be starting yet another different quarterback on opening day, extending their streak to seven straight seasons.
Steichen is a gruff-looking, tough-talking coach, but for a few minutes during his introductory news conference, he couldn't hide his emotions.
“Right now, I'm a little emotional because this is a big day for me and my family,” Steichen saidas he choked back tears. “We want to get a lot of things done here, and we've got to grind it every single day.”
Steichen's previous success with quarterbacks probably was his biggest selling point. He worked previously with Philip Rivers and helped mentor Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.
Most draft analysts expect Indy to use the No. 4 overall pick on a quarterback, which drew some banter between Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard about their trading options and ended with a possible hint about Irsay's intention.
“(Ballard) likes picks, although the Alabama guy doesn't look bad,” Irsay said, referring to Bryce Young.
Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Kentucky's Will Levis are the other two consensus top quarterbacks.
Indy has drafted only two quarterbacks in the first round over the past 25 years — Peyton Manning in 1998 and Andrew Luck in 2012, both with the top overall pick.
There are striking similarities between Steichen and Reich.
Both progressed through the coaching ranks in similar ways, working together in San Diego with Rivers, and both were college quarterbacks, though Steichen, unlike Reich, never took a snap in the NFL. They even seem to have similar philosophies.
“I'm a gut-feeling guy, especially on game day, as a play-caller,” Steichen said.
As for Gannon, he replaces former New Braunfels quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, who was fired last month after going 4-13 in his fourth season as the Cardinals' head coach. Gannon becomes Arizona's fourth coach in seven years.
The 40-year-old Gannon was Philadelphia's defensive coordinator the past two seasons, rebuilding a defense that helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl, where they lost 38-35 to Kansas City at State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals.
The Eagles had the NFL'S No. 2 defense this season and led the NFL with 70 sacks — 15 more than any other team.
Gannon's hiring is the first major move by general manager Monti Ossenfort, who was hired last month after Steve Keim and the team parted ways.
Gannon inherits a defense spearheaded by Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker, young linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins. Arizona also is potentially looking at a roster overhaul with roughly 30 unrestricted free agents and the retirement of three-time NFL defensive player of the year J.J. Watt.
Before being hired by the Eagles, Gannon was the defensive backs coach for the Colts from 2018 to 2020. He also was an assistant defensive backs/quality control coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2014 to 2017 and held the same position with the Tennessee Titans in 2012 and 2013.
He played defensive back at Louisville in 2002 before suffering a career-ending hip injury and was a graduate assistant at his alma mater.