Eagles agree to terms with coach Nick Sirianni, hire Jonathan Gannon as new defensive coordinator



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After Sirianni in Philadelphia, Jonathan Gannon will be the Eagles’ new defensive coordinator, sources told Rapoport and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Gannon worked with Sirianni in Indianapolis as a defensive back coach.

Pelissero adds that the Eagles have also agreed to terms with Colts assistant Kevin Patullo as the offensive passing game coordinator, according to a source. Regarding the Eagles’ offensive coordinator position, Rapoport reports that the team is interviewing Broncos running back coach Curtis Modkins and Chargers offensive coordinator Shane Steichen on Sunday, according to a source.

As the Eagles’ new coaching staff materializes, former Eagles coaches still under contract are weighing their options. Longtime Eagles aide Duce Staley has asked to be released from his contract, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. Staley has a few teams interested in his coaching services, according to Garafolo. Staley will meet with owner Jeffrey Lurie and continue from there.

Sirianni returns to Philadelphia after spending the last three seasons in Indianapolis under Frank Reich, whom Sirianni followed at the Eagles Colts when Reich was hired from Philadelphia in 2018. The 39-year-old brings a dozen years of experience in as an offensive coach in the NFL. to the Eagles, who recently led the Colts’ offense to a top 10 in yards per game (ninth in points per game, 11th in passing yards per game) in 2020 as part of a team that made the playoffs playoffs with a wild-card berth.

Sirianni coordinated a lucky offense to operate with a stellar offensive line, tying the second fewest sacks allowed at 21, part of a larger trend in which the Colts have allowed the second fewest sacks since 2018, Sirianni’s first year in Indianapolis. . Prior to his arrival – which coincided with guard Quenton Nelson’s selection by Indianapolis – the Colts had allowed the most sacks in the league, dropping 56 in 2017.

Sirianni’s offense also provided an ideal situation for veteran quarterback Philip Rivers to improve in his final season at Indianapolis. Rivers threw nine fewer interceptions under Sirianni than in his previous season, enjoying an 8.5 point increase in passer rating from 2019 to 2020. He was sacked 15 fewer times in his long campaign with Colts than he had been shot in his last season with the Chargers, and accounted for 11 fewer giveaways.

Such an improvement from Carson Wentz would do wonders for the Eagles and allay the concerns of their passionate fan base, which has been subjected to a horrific offensive performance for much of the season, with Wentz struggling behind a patchwork offensive line. Their problems led to the benching of Wentz, and ultimately the firing of Doug Pederson.

Sirianni is returning to Philadelphia to replace the man he once worked under, helping the Eagles in a race to a Super Bowl LII triumph in the 2017 season. If his production in Indianapolis were to be rescheduled in Philadelphia, we could look forward to it. expect a breakout season from running back Miles Sanders, who will be the leader of Sirianni’s attack. In 2020, Sirianni’s offense saw rookie Jonathan Taylor explode in the second half of the season, finishing with 1,468 yards of scrimmage in 15 games, the third most by a Colts rookie in franchise history. .

The rental could also bode well for the Philadelphia receiving corps, which was once again hampered by injury but features a promising youngster in Jalen Reagor. The Colts had six players with over 30 receptions and nine players with over 200 receiving yards in 2020. The two brands were tied for most NFL teams, according to NFL Research.

Sirianni began his career at Mount Union, the Division III powerhouse, as a defensive-backs coach before rising through the coaching ranks to his new high. If his Eagles embody the winning ways of the Purple Raiders, Philadelphia will be happy with the franchise’s decision to select him as their new head coach for years to come.

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