4 Eagles assistants could potentially join NFL’s next coaching carousel

The NFL can be unpredictable at times, but some things won’t ever change. Head-coaching firings at each season’s end are inevitable. So is the subsequent raiding of better coaching staffs by the bottom-feeders who are down on their luck. No one knows that better than the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans as they’ve seen that scenario play out not only in terms of what’s gone on with coach movement but also with the loss of so much talent from the front office.

Don’t look now, but you may want to resign yourselves to the idea of having to get to know a couple of new assistants when we reach February. Recently, Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr detailed the NFL’s top head coaching candidates for 2023. Four Eagles assistants were mentioned.

You’re, more than likely, already familiar with two of them. Two others are also well deserving of a mention.

SI names four Eagles assistants as 2023 NFL head-coaching candidates.

In Orr’s recent must-read, he named 65 coaches (and Josh McCown) as potential pieces in the next NFL head-coaching carousel. This one sits behind a paywall, so we won’t share direct quotes (hopefully, you haven’t exceeded your four free reads for the month if you aren’t subscribed to a premium plan), but here’s what we can state.

In addition to McCown, Orr named 15 offensive coordinators, 16 defensive coordinators, two special teams coordinators, 16 offensive assistants, eight defensive assistants, and eight coaches from the NCAA level (no, everyone hasn’t given up on those guys yet).

When the work was done, four of Philly’s assistants were named. Here’s who made the cut and a few of our theories on each of the guys that were mentioned.

Shane Steichen, offensive coordinator

Steichen is the top man on Orr’s list, and by season’s end, he’ll be the top man on a few NFL teams’ lists as well.

Earlier this past summer, we told you to watch out for Shane Steichen’s sudden rise. Some disagreed. They’ve since been silent following the Eagles and Jalen Hurts’ scorching start to the current regular season. If Philadelphia’s offense continues its torrid pace, Shane’s name will, no doubt, be white hot come next February.

Jonathan Gannon, defensive coordinator

Don’t be shocked if Philly is looking for both an offensive coordinator and a defensive coordinator next offseason. Jonathan Gannon was a hot commodity last time around, and he figures to be one again come February.

Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach

While Brian Johnson’s list may not be as substantial as Gannon’s or Steichen’s (at least not yet), he’s being mentioned more often. He, perhaps, gets a coordinator’s job first, but you can’t deny his talent. Keep in mind the fact that he was Dak Prescott’s quarterbacks coach at Mississippi State and an offensive coordinator for Dan Mullen who is loved and respected in NFL circles.

Nick Rallis, linebackers coach

While the NFL is a copycat league and teams tend to go with the ‘next offensive genius’ these days, Nick Rallis could be in line for some mention as he’s worked closely with Jonathan Gannon.

He’s young, 29 to be exact, and truthfully, Dennard Wilson, Philadelphia’s defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach, is more seasoned and probably more ready for a promotion (this is who we’d like to see as the next Eagles defensive coordinator if the Birds lose J.G.), it’s hard to argue with Rallis being on the list.

In closing: All four of these guys have earned the right to have their names on this list. We’ll be watching closely to see how they develop during the 2022-2023 regular season (and hopefully a deep Eagles playoff run).