Following Sirianni to Philadelphia will be Jonathan Gannon as the Eagles’ new defensive coordinator, sources said to Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Gannon worked with Sirianni in Indianapolis as his defense coach.
Pelissero added that the Eagles also agreed to a deal with Colts’ assistant Kevin Patullo as coordinator of the offensive passing game, according to a source. As for 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 on contract, are evaluating their options. The Eagles’ longtime assistant, Duce Staley, has asked to be released from his contract, said Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Staley has some teams interested in his coaching services, according to Garafolo. Staley will meet 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 for the Colts from the Eagles when Reich was signed from Philadelphia in 2018. The 39-year-old brings a dozen years of experience as an offensive coach in the NFL to the Eagles, most recently directing the Colts’ attack to a result in the 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 reached the postseason with a wild- card slot.
Sirianni coordinated an attack lucky enough to operate with a stellar offensive line, drawing the second lowest number of bags allowed to 21, which is part of a larger trend in which the Colts allowed the second lowest number of bags since 2018, the first Sirianni’s year in Indianapolis. Before their arrival – which coincided with the selection of point guard Quenton Nelson in Indianapolis – the Colts allowed the largest number of sacks in the league, giving up 56 in 2017.
Sirianni’s attack also provided an ideal situation for veteran quarterback Philip Rivers to improve in his last season in Indianapolis. Rivers launched nine fewer interceptions under Sirianni than in the previous season, enjoying a 8.5 point pass rating increase from 2019 to 2020. He was fired 15 times less in his long campaign with the Colts of the that in his final season with the Chargers and counted 11 fewer prizes.
Such an improvement by Carson Wentz would do wonders for the Eagles and ease the concerns of his passionate fanbase, which has undergone a horrible offensive performance for much of the season, with Wentz fighting behind an offensive patchwork line. His problems led to the Wentz trial and eventually to the dismissal of Doug Pederson.
Sirianni returns to Philadelphia to replace the man he worked with, helping the Eagles in the race for the Super Bowl LII triumph in the 2017 season. If your production in Indianapolis moves to Philadelphia, you can expect a great season from the Miles runner. Sanders, who will be the leader in Sirianni’s attack. In 2020, Sirianni’s attack saw newcomer Jonathan Taylor explode in the second half of the season, ending with 1,468 yards of scrimmage in 15 games, the third largest by a Colts newcomer in the franchise’s history.
The signing could also bode well for the Philadelphia reception corps, which was again hampered by injury, but features a promising young man in Jalen Reagor. The Colts had six players with more than 30 receptions and nine players with more than 200 receiving yards in 2020. Both brands tied with the majority of any NFL team, according to NFL Research.
Sirianni began his career in the powerful Division III, Mount Union, as a defense coach before climbing the technical ladder to his new peak. If its Eagles embody Purple Raiders’ victories, Philadelphia will be happy with the franchise’s decision to select him as their new coach for years to come.