The Philadelphia Eagles lost both of their top coordinators this offseason with Shane Steichen becoming the Indianapolis Colts head coach and Jonathan Gannon taking over the Arizona Cardinals. While both departures might impact the Eagles in 2023, the specifics behind Gannon’s departure might’ve been even more costly.
Shortly before the 2023 NFL Draft, the Eagles and Cardinals announced a pick swap following a tampering investigation. Philadelphia received the 66th overall pick in exchange for the 94th overall pick and a fifth-round selection in 2024.
Related: Philadelphia Eagles draft picks 2024
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter detailed, the agreement came after the Eagles discovered Arizona had been in contact with Gannon during a period when teams couldn’t talk to coaching candidates. While both sides worked out a resolution, Philadelphia might’ve also lost out on an opportunity because of what happened.
Appearing on the John Kincaid Show, Schefter revealed the ripple effects of the Cardinals’ tampering. According to the NFL insider, Vic Fangio is likely the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in 2023 if not for Arizona’s tampering with Gannon.
“The interesting part about it would be this, I think it impacted a lot of peoples’ lives. Vic Fangio, for example, probably would not have taken the Dolphins defensive coordinator job and would be the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia today if everything was on the up and up. And so, it didn’t just impact the Cardinals and their job with Jonathan Gannon, it impacted others as well.”
Adam Schefter on how tampering influenced Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator hire
Additional details weren’t provided, but Fangio was originally set to be hired by the Miami Dolphins early this offseason before there was a sudden delay. He eventually signed a deal, with Miami making him one of the highest-paid coordinators in NFL history.
Fangio did assist the Eagles during their Super Bowl run, serving as a consultant for the team. Regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the NFL, he proved to be a valuable addition to the coaching staff for that short time and likely would’ve fit in nicely as the defensive coordinator.
Schefter also provided some level of detail on the Eagles’ perspective of Gannon’s actions and Arizona’s tampering. While the organization wasn’t happy, it was able to work out compensation with the Cardinals to settle the issue.
“I think everybody knows – in any line of work – if they’re on an expiring contract or they’re under consideration, they still have responsibilities to their employer to finish the job the right way… In this particular case, I just think the Eagles weren’t comfortable with the information that they learned Jeffrey [Lurie] brought it up to Michael Bidwill, and this is where the organizations wound up.”
Adam Schefter on the Philadelphia Eagles — Arizona Cardinals tampering situation
Philadelphia eventually used the 66th overall pick on safety Sydney Brown, who is expected to play a meaningful role in the Eagles’ secondary next season.
