The Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff underwent massive changes before the 2023 season, losing offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. After enjoying remarkable success with the two coordinators, head coach Nick Sirianni has been less forgiving with his new staff.
Philadelphia was putting a lot of faith in offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and defensive coordinator Sean Desai, hoping they could deliver the same success as their predecessors. While the Eagles were winning games, both its offense and defense were underperforming.
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Even as the team kept winning, frustrations among fans and players grew. Coming off a 28-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, improving Philadelphia’s record to 8-1, changes were evidently made with the coaching staff in regards to game planning.
According to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, before the Eagles demoted Desai, Sirianni stripped him of his third-down game planning before Week 11.
Sirianni reportedly made the decision during the Week 10 bye following a self-scouting session of the defense. He saw enough issues on that side of the ball, especially on third downs, to make a change.
- Philadelphia Eagles third-down defense (Weeks 1-9): 63-of-126, 50% third-down success rate
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- Philadelphia Eagles third-down defense (Weeks 11-16): 36-of-77, 46.8% third-down success rate
Several weeks later, losing confidence in his defensive coordinator’s play-calling and game-planning, Sirianni stripped Desai of his powers entirely. The defense was handed over to Matt Patricia, who joined the Eagles’ organization this offseason.
The Eagles haven’t exactly fared better as a result of the changes. After beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 20, Philadelphia narrowly escaped with a 37-34 win over the Buffalo Bills and it was then blown out by the San Francisco 49ers (42-19) and the Cowboys (33-13).
While Sirianni’s team will make the playoffs, there are significant doubts around the league regarding this team’s ability to beat a great opponent. If the Eagles are knocked out early in the playoffs, changes at either coordinator position are very possible in 2024.
