When it comes to coordinators, new Philadelphia Eagles OC Sean Mannion won't be the only rookie play caller with the Commanders set to visit the Eagles in Week 1 action, as the two teams feature three new coordinators between them.
Along with Mannion, who will be heading the Philadelphia offense from the booth, the visiting Commanders have revamped their coordinators on both sides of the ball.
First-year offensive coordinator David Blough was an internal hire by Washington; the former assistant quarterbacks coach arrived in the nation's capital in 2024 before being promoted to offensive coordinator after Kliff Kingsbury's departure last January. He is set to make his play-calling debut at the Linc in Week 1 and is now overseeing a strategic overhaul on offense in Washington.
Shared Minnesota connection for Eagles OC Sean Mannion and Commanders coach
With the two offensive coordinators for Philadelphia and Washington set to make their debuts against one another in Week 1, an interesting backstory exists on the defensive side of the ball as well. Washington's first-year defensive coordinator, Daronte Jones, and Mannion were previously part of the Minnesota Vikings franchise together on two separate occasions, with Jones serving on the coaching staff while Mannion was a quarterback on the roster at one point.
According to Jones, he fully expects Mannion and quarterback Jalen Hurts to bring plenty of new looks to the table, while Philly's strong veteran group will inevitably bring the same traits of tenacity and playmaking into the equation in week 1.
“There’s always going to be some similarities,” Jones said. “If you have a veteran offense like they do and you’re bringing a lot of guys back, it’s always about how much will change and how much is going to be out of his (Hurts') comfort zone.
“There’s going to be some similarities, there’s going to be some crossover. I think Sean is going to do a great job over there. Sean and I have history together. We were at Minnesota on two different stints with two different head coaches. So I know Sean will have Jalen playing at a high level.”
While 3 of the 4 coordinators in Sunday's home opener will be out to prove their playcalling mettle on the biggest stage. Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio returns for Year 3 at the helm in Philly. Players have been abuzz all summer long about how this unit is primed to hit a whole new level, and the experience of a battle-tested, Fangio-led unit in this Week 1 opener stands out when assessing these respective coaching staffs.
Read more: Forgotten Eagles unit could put Commanders on their heels in Week 1
While the other coordinators in this affair will look to hit the ground running in their own right, Fangio has all the pieces in place to dominate right out of the gate.
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