5 defensive coordinators the Philadelphia Eagles should target
The Philadelphia Eagles had to deal a devastating loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. After leading by 10 points at halftime, the Eagles could not get Patrick Mahomes and company off the field and it cost them.
The offseason came around quickly for the Philadelphia front office and coaching staff and they've seen key pieces move on. Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was hired by the Indianapolis Colts to be their new head coach. Their defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was named the Arizona Cardinals head coach the following day.
Current quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson is expected to take over the offensive coordinator position, so all eyes are on who will step in to run the Eagles' defense.
Five candidates the Philadelphia Eagles should look at
#5. Sean Desai
Sean Desai is an associate defensive head coach with the Seattle Seahawks. He previously was the defensive coordinator for a year with the Chicago Bears. Desai is known to be a disciple of the Vic Fangio style of defense, which has produced top tier units in the NFL for many years.
Although he's largely unproven as someone who can run his own defense, Desai is a good candidate and will soon be a defensive coordinator in the NFL soon.
#4. Mike Zimmer
This would certainly be a swing for the fences. Mike Zimmer is a well-known defensive specialist and led a top 10 defense three out of his five years as the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator. He used this success to become head coach of the Minnesota Vikings.
In Minnesota, he had a top-five defense three times and had the best ranked defense (according to DVOA) in 2017. Zimmer was fired by Minnesota at the end of the 2021 campaign and served as an analyst for Jackson State this past football season. We might see Zimmer in the NFL again soon, but whether that will be with the Eagles is unclear right now.
#3. Kris Richard
Kris Richard played a big role in the dominance of the "Legion of Boom" secondary for the Seattle Seahawks as their secondary coach. He is from the Pete Carroll tree and is lauded as a developer of talent.
Kris Richard makes you as a Cowboys fan feel _____? https://t.co/Loim4H88oW
He took over the defensive coordinator position for Seattle in 2015 and his defenses ranked first, third and thirteenth in points allowed. Richard also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant coach. He is currently a free agent after parting ways with the New Orleans Saints after the retirement of Sean Payton.
#2. Jim Leonhard
Jim Leonhard is an up-and-coming star as a defensive football coach. He returned to his alma mater Wisconsin in 2016 as a defensive backs coach after retiring from playing in the NFL. He took over the defensive coordinator position in 2017 and held the role for six years.
During his time as defensive coordinator, Wisconsin was first in the country in total defense, second in run defense and fifth in scoring defense.
Leonhard can flat out coach. Since being passed over for the open Wisconsin role, he hasn't accepted a new offer. It's unknown whether he wants to make the leap to the NFL after his successful college stint, but if the Eagles came calling, it would be hard to say no.
#1. Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo has been touted as one of the best young assistant coaches in the NFL. He spent his entire playing career with the New England Patriots. After retiring in 2015, Mayo became the inside linebackers coach for New England four years later.
He's been an important part of the defensive system that Bill Belichick employs. The next progression for Mayo is to take over his own defense. He'd be a great fit on a young Eagles coaching staff.