Reactions as Eagles fill offensive coordinator vacancy with Brian Johnson
Did you notice something? While names were being tossed around and the rumor mill churned over who the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator might be, we weren’t seeing the same technique utilized to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy created when Shane Steichen left to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Why? It’s simple. The decision was an easy one to make.
As the NFL Combine begins this week, we wondered if Philly would attend with their offensive and defensive coordinators in place. Step one is taken care of. Brian Johnson has been promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.
Seriously, was there a better option floating around?
Here’s a look at Brian Johnson’s journey from prep star to the Eagles offensive coordinator’s chair.
Brian Johnson has been a part of Jalen Hurts’ family since before Jalen Hurts was a member of his family. Having played for QB1’s father as a prep star, he went on to play collegiate ball at Utah before spending a season with the United Football League’s New York Sentinels in 2009 (that franchise eventually became the Hartford Colonials). Johnson eventually determine his calling was as a coach.
He returned to the Utes as their QBs coach from 2010 until 2011. The offensive coordinator title was added in 2012 and he continued in that role in 2013.
In 2014, he was named Mississippi State’s quarterbacks coach, where he groomed a young Dak Prescott. He stayed there until 2016 before accepting the role of the Houston Cougars’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2017.
In 2018, he returned to the mighty SEC. This time, he did so as the Florida Gators’ quarterbacks coach. In 2020, he again added the O.C.’s responsibilities to his plate. He was the first African-American offensive coordinator in team history.
Under his watch, Florida became the most prolific offense in the FBS as they tallied 387.6 yards per game. As most of you know, he’s served as the Eagles’ quarterback coach since 2021, and Jalen Hurts has become an MVP-level passer partially because of his help. Naming him Johnson O.C. gives QB1 some much-needed consistency. In truth, this was a no-brainer.
We needed some good news after Philly gave special teams coordinator Michael Clay an extension and a raise. We’ll have to wait and see what they do to fill the defensive coordinator vacancy.
