Eagles see both coordinators fly off to new jobs
The NFC champion Eagles lost both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs on Tuesday, two days after their 38-35 Super Bowl LVII loss to the Chiefs.
Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was introduced as the Colts’ new head coach, while defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon landed the Cardinals job.
This means all five head coaching vacancies have been filled.
The Giants, meanwhile, retained both of their coordinators despite strong showings during this year’s cycle of coaching interviews, as both the Colts and Cardinals strung along finalists while waiting for their respective Eagles assistants.
Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale made it deep into Indy’s process as one of several front-runners before he was ruled out as Steichen emerged late.
And Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was in Arizona’s final two with Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo before the Super Bowl until Gannon, a third candidate, suddenly became the favorite.
This is a huge win for Giants coach Brian Daboll to keep his staff intact. Both Martindale and Kafka now will return for a second season.
The Cardinals’ hire of Gannon, 39, over Anarumo is questionable at best, however. The failure of Gannon’s defensive game plan on Super Bowl Sunday was the primary reason for the Chiefs’ comeback championship win.
Now Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill is hiring him back to the scene of the crime.
That’s the same Bidwill who employed embattled GM Steve Keim for much too long, hired and fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury, and gave QB Kyler Murray a $230 million contract with a homework clause in it (a clause that was eventually taken out).
Anarumo, 56, in addition to boasting a more impressive resume, has consistently formulated effective and winning defensive game plans against Andy Reid, Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Gannon’s Eagles racked up 70 sacks this season, though, and it turns out new Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort stumped hard for Gannon after getting to know him the past year.
The 2022 Eagles become the first Super Bowl team to lose both coordinators immediately to head coaching jobs since the 1994 Niners, per NFL research.
That year, Niners’ offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan was hired by the Broncos, while defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes went to Philly.
The Eagles are expected to promote quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson as their new offensive coordinator. It’s not as clear what they will do on defense, where Vic Fangio would have been the hire if he hadn’t already signed to join Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins staff.
Fangio consulted with the Eagles for two weeks prior to the Super Bowl, however, so maybe he wouldn’t have received a warm welcome in the City of Brotherly Love after Sunday’s ugly defensive results anyway.
This year’s hiring cycle concludes with the Broncos (Sean Payton) making the biggest splash; the Panthers (Frank Reich) landing a steady veteran with eyes on improving the quarterback position; the Texans (DeMeco Ryans) hiring the hottest young coordinator, and the Colts and Cardinals poaching Philly’s top guys.
Carolina probably has the best chance of becoming relevant again in 2023 with the right QB.
CAGER, ANDERSON BACK
The Giants have re-signed tight end Lawrence Cager and guard Jack Anderson the past two days. Both players have upside and were exclusive rights free agents, eligible to come back cheaply and continue to develop.