Another one bites the dust for the Philadelphia Eagles with an offensive coordinator candidate off the board without even knowing it publicly.
Multiple insiders reported that former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will take the Ohio State Buckeyes job in the same role. The Athletic's Dianna Russini shared that the Eagles had conversations with Smith before he took the Buckeyes' job.
Smith has spent the last two seasons with the Steelers running their offense after serving as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. It's just another candidate to mark off for the Eagles in their long search for guys who have been out, including Mike McDaniel, Zac Robinson, and Bobby Slowik, being at the top of the list.
Eagles lose out on another candidate for the offensive coordinator job
It doesn't appear to be getting better as candidates are now taking college jobs over the Eagles' offensive coordinator role. Fans are left scratching their heads, confused about what it takes to land a candidate.
The Eagles' opening should have plenty of appeal, with all the weapons on offense, including Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, all under contract for the 2026 season. There are the tough parts: Brown's trade rumors, Hurts' reported reluctance to run the ball more, and Lane Johnson's looming retirement decision throughout the offseason.
There are still plenty of good options for the Eagles, even if they won't exactly excite the fan base. Guys like Mike Kafka, Jim Bob Cooter, and Declan Doyle seem to be getting the most attention from everyone.
Obviously, Brian Daboll is at the top of the list and is reportedly still in the running, but who knows what is going on with him. Daboll still has to decide between the Buffalo Bills head coach opening and whether he wants the Eagles or the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator openings.
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This search might have to stretch out through the Super Bowl, even if Eagles fans don't want that. Philly has to make sure to nail this hire, so they shouldn't rush it.