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PHILADELPHIA – Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz intends to retire the coaching year in 2021 as he plans to retire, sources have told ESPN.
Philadelphia will be on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator as they embark on what promises to be an offseason full of significant changes for the 4-10-1 team.
Schwartz, 54, intends to let his contract expire. He has had a few minor surgeries over the past year, including hip and eye surgeries, and believes stepping back from the daily grind of coaching would be in his best interest, a source said.
He also took a year off in 2015 after being fired as the Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator and worked with the NFL officials department in a consultant position.
Schwartz joined Doug Pederson’s staff in 2016 and helped deliver the city to its first Super Bowl title a year later. The Eagles defense finished No.1 against the run and fourth in points allowed (18.4) in the Championship in 2017. Schwartz’s unit gave up 17 points in total in the playoffs against the Falcons from Atlanta and the Minnesota Vikings before the Super 41-33. Penalty shootout against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The Eagles were in the top 10 in run defense (1st, 93.4 YPG), red zone defense (2nd, 49.5%), third defense (3rd, 35.4%), on defense (7th, 20.8 PPG) and take away (9th, 94) in his first four seasons.
Known for allowing their defensive linemen to grow their ears back and attack, the Eagles are in the top five for sacks in 2020.
However, problems have crept in over the past two seasons in particular. An Achilles heel last season was the defense’s propensity to give up the big game, giving 15 plays over 40 yards in the air, the second worst in the NFL. In 2020, the group struggled to generate revenue and entered week 17 with the second fewest interceptions (six).
Schwartz’s unit has been hit hard again by injury once again, with Fletcher Cox, Rodney McLeod, Derek Barnett, Avonte Maddox and Darius Slay among those missing out in the second half of the season.
“Obviously his defenses have always been the best defenses in the National Football League – of course when the guys are healthy and all that,” coach Doug Pederson said this week. “Our relationship has been great. I think as the season progressed this year I thought the defense was doing some really good things for us and keeping the offense in those football games here, creating flats. to take away and sort of cripple the racing game. of our opponents, things of that nature. “
Schwartz made his NFL debut in 1993 as a staff scout for Bill Belichick, then coach of the Cleveland Browns. He spent five years as coach of the Detroit Lions (2009-13), helping the team reach their first playoff spot since 1999 in 2011.
He was also defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans (2001-08) and Bills (2014).
During his time in Tennessee, the Titans won six playoff spots, played two AFC championship games and appeared in Super Bowl XXXIV.
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