Aside from hiring Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator, the Philadelphia Eagles are largely running it back with a similar coaching staff from last season’s disappointment. Nick Sirianni will return for his sixth season as head coach. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is expected to return for a second season as the defensive coordinator/playcaller.
Though, Fangio’s long-term future with the Eagles remains cloudy. Some reports suggest he already told the team he’d be retiring and thus not returning in 2026. He’s apparently changed his mind and is planning to come back for another season. But that doesn’t mean the 67-year-old will stick around for another year in 2027.
If Fangio does depart next season, some believe the Eagles may already have a replacement defensive coordinator lined up.
According to Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer, former Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz may be sitting out the season in 2026 so he can set himself up to fill the Eagles’ potential DC vacancy next offseason.
“There’s a really good chance that the best defensive coordinator opening next year will be in the old home where Schwartz won a title eight years ago,” Breer wrote. “Eagles DC Vic Fangio considered walking away after Philly won it all last year, almost did it this year, and that, of course, leaves him very much year-to-year going forward.”
Schwartz is still under contract with the Browns, so he’ll be getting paid this season no matter what. There’s also a team option for him to be under contract in 2027, but the Browns will likely decline that as why would they want to pay a coach who won’t be there helping them? If so, Schwartz could very well end up right back in Philadelphia.
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