Philadelphia Eagles: 3 offensive coordinator options still available for 2020

Duce Staley

Current Job Title: Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach/assistant head coach.

Duce Staley has one of the easiest paths to becoming the offensive coordinator for the Eagles out of all the prospects in this article, believe it or not.

Groh was an internal promotion when he became offensive coordinator after he was originally hired by the Eagles in 2017 to become the team’s wide receivers coach.

Coach Pederson comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree, which has a habit of internally promoting position coaches to senior positions in the coaching staff as well. Pederson, in fact, moved up the coaching ranks by way of internal promotion through Reid.

Pederson was originally hired by Reid and the Eagles to be an offensive quality control coordinator in 2009. Pederson was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2011 and eventually retained by Reid when he departed Philadelphia for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, serving as Reid’s offensive coordinator for three seasons.

This model of coaching hierarchy incentivizes position coaches and reward success on the field with better jobs in the organization.

If promotions are given out as a symbol of success and recognition in the Eagles organization, Staley is well overdue a promotion since he has been the running backs coach for the team since 2013.

Staley was originally hired by Reid in 2010 to be a coaching intern, according to the teams website.

Staley was promoted to special teams quality control coach in 2011, and was promoted under the Chip Kelly regime to running backs coach in 2013.

Staley would stay on when Pederson was hired back by the Eagles as head coach in 2016, where Staley has remained at his position ever since. In 2018, Staley got a bump in title, accepting the assistant head coach position.

As a coach, Staley has a unique advantage over many coaches when it comes to building rapport with players since he is a former player himself. Staley was drafted in 1997 by the Eagles to play running back, and even became the lead running back in the organization.

Staley finished his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006 and had a career rushing total of 5,785 yards to go along with 34 total touchdowns (10 receiving). He played with some of the greatest running backs in the twenty-first century, including Brian Westbrook and Jerome Bettis.

This past season, we have seen the advantages of having a former player in coaching positions. Several former players are scattered across high-level coaching positions in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, a former linebacker, has led his team to the AFC Championship game in is second season as head coach.

Former Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Kellen Moore became the team’s offensive coordinator this past offseason, coaching the team to the second highest in Offensive DVOA in 2019, per Football Outsiders.

Coach Pederson himself is a former player, having backed up Brett Favre for the Green Bay Packers from 1995-98. Pederson even played for the Eagles in 1999, starting nine games while recently drafted Donovan McNabb was learning from the sidelines.

Staley has thrived under three separate head coaches in Philadelphia, leading the teams running backs to average 127.9 yards per game during his tenure, fifth highest in the NFL.

The argument can be made the Staley has put in his time and deserves a shot leading the offensive side of the team in 2020.

Coach Pederson is an offensive-minded coach and prefers throwing the ball over rushing, so Staley would have to conform his game-plans to Pederson’s philosophy and style.

But it would be unfair to assume that just because Staley has worked with running backs during his time as an Eagles position coach that he would prioritize rushing over passing.

Staley have worked through three different Eagles head coaches and has seen what works and what doesn’t work. He would have a wide breadth of experience to draw from and would be able to command respect as a former player.

If the Eagles are serious about making an internal promotion, Staley is the obvious option.