3 Fun facts on new Philadelphia Eagles QB coach Brian Johnson

By now, you should know, especially if you’re a longer-tenured Philadelphia Eagles fan, that you can’t sneak anything past this fan base. One hour after the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport announced via Twitter that the Birds were hiring Florida’s now-former offensive coordinator, Brian Johnson as their new quarterbacks coach, he was retweeted well over 2,000 times. No official team statement has been made, but again, according to sources, this appears to be where things are headed.

He joins a coaching staff that includes newly-added offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, who we’ve shared a couple of thoughts on, passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who ITI also discussed in a previous write-up, defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, and of course, the head man, Nick Sirianni.

Here are three fun facts on the new guy if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Johnson fills the void left by the former passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Press Taylor, who wasn’t retained during the coaching change and probably won’t be missed by any die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan (or any of the casual ones either).

1. This should silence the theory that most of these Eagles hires had no other options.

Johnson’s been quite the hot commodity lately. He also interviewed for the head-coaching vacancies with both the South Carolina Gamecocks and Boise State Broncos.

This isn’t just some guy that landed in the chair. He’s well respected for the work he’s been doing for the past 11 seasons.

2. He’s a young guy too but wise beyond his years.

Those of you who are thrilled by the fact that this team is full of young guys will see that Johnson turns 34 in February and probably roll your eyes. He’s wise beyond his years as he boasts a resume that quite a few coaches who are twice his age would kill for.

He was Utah’s quarterbacks coach from 2010 to 2011 before adding the title of offensive coordinator during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He’s been Houston’s quarterbacks coach (2017). He’s also held down the title of Florida’s quarterbacks coach (2018 and 2019) before adding the title of offensive coordinator during the 2020 season to his resume as well.

Oh, and he also held down another title from 2014 to 2016 that we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention.

3. Here’s the former tutor of an Eagles rival and knows a current Birds signal-caller very well.

Coach Johnson has known Jalen Hurts since he was four years old and even tried to help recruit him to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. From 2014 to 2016, Johnson, while serving as the quarterbacks coach in Starkville, also mentored a young signal-caller that would go on to be an Eagles rival, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Under Johnson’s watch, Prescott earned First-team All-SEC nods twice in 2014 and 2015. He also won consecutive Conerly Trophies (2014, 2015), an award that’s given every year to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi by the state’s Sports Hall of Fame. The Philadelphia Eagles may have struck gold with this hire, whether the plan is to go with Carson Wentz or Jalen Hurts as the starting quarterback going forward.