“We don’t have to make that decision quite yet or announce that decision for competitive reasons,” the head coach said to the press. “I don’t want them to study one guy over the other. I’m not saying we don’t have an answer of who that is yet, but I don’t just have to share that quite yet publicly.”

In this league, revealing too many details can often be counterproductive. For now, with the Eagles’ Week 1 debut approaching, Sirianni prefers to keep things quiet and maintain the mystery.

What options does Sirianni have as Hurts’ backup?

Behind Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ quarterback room features an intriguing mix of veteran security and developmental potential. The primary insurance policy is veteran caller Andy Dalton, who brings a wealth of starting experience to step in seamlessly as a steady hand if Hurts ever needs to miss time.

Right next to him on the depth chart is Tanner McKee, a home-grown option who knows the offense inside and out and continues to show solid potential as a reliable QB2/QB3. The room is rounded out by rookie Cole Payton, a raw, dual-threat developmental prospect who offers a stylistic match to Hurts’ dual-threat capabilities for the practice squad and future roster depth.

The beginning of a new dream for Philadelphia

Although they managed to win the NFC East in 2025 with an 11–6 record, the Eagles unfortunately failed to advance beyond the Wild Card round, something that hurt deeply within the franchise. With the immediate goal of getting revenge as soon as possible, these will be the first challenges facing Nick Sirianni and his players as they look to get the season off to a strong start.

• Week 1, vs Washington Commanders (September 13)
• Week 2, at Tennessee Titans (September 20)
• Week 3, at Chicago Bears (September 28)
• Week 4, vs Los Angeles Rams (October 4)
• Week 5, vs Jacksonville Jaguars (October 11) Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

“It felt great,” Lemon said, via Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Definitely a blessing every time I’m able to step on the field. I never take it for granted.” The former USC Trojans player was seen practicing normally at the Eagles’ facilities, putting signs of his recent hamstring injury behind him.

“I feel pretty confident [there won’t be a reoccurrence],” he also added. “Just learning from my mistakes from the previous times, working with the trainers, setting a good plan for me, just being a professional off the field.”

One of Hurts’ top targets

Lemon returned to the turf after missing the last 10 practices with his teammates and is ready to become Jalen Hurts’ ideal partner. The quarterback will also have Dontayvion Wicks and DeVonta Smith as his top alternatives.

Nick Sirianni knows he will no longer have A.J. Brown this season, as the star wide receiver packed his bags and headed to Foxborough to join the New England Patriots. As a result, the wide receiver room will have a new look heading into the upcoming NFL season.

The Lemon-Hurts connection

It is well known that for an NFL offense to succeed, the connection and chemistry between the quarterback and his top weapons are crucial. Lemon, who is taking his first steps as a professional, is already beginning to feel comfortable with Hurts.

“I feel like that chemistry and that work never stops,” Lemon said. “Each and every day after practice, just talking to him. … I feel like any time I can build that chemistry, it’s good.”

Awaiting his NFL debut

Makai Lemon is confident he will be available for Sirianni in the Eagles’ season opener. The game will take place on September 13 at home against Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.

Philadelphia will have one final preseason game before then, although Lemon’s availability remains uncertain. The game will also be played at Lincoln Financial Field, against the Cincinnati Bengals, on Friday, August 28.

During the 2025 season, rumors suggested that the Eagles were open to trading Brown. Reports indicated that the star wide receiver was not fully comfortable with Jalen Hurts, the offensive scheme, or the overall direction under Sirianni. The head coach has now addressed what lies ahead for the Pro Bowl wideout.

“Will A.J. be here next season? I think we’re still in a spot where I can’t guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season,” Sirianni said, per Ari Meirov. “I’m thinking I’m going to be the coach next season, but you can’t guarantee anything past tomorrow.”

One last dance for A.J. Brown?

In 2025, the Eagles promoted Kevin Patullo to offensive coordinator following Kellen Moore’s departure to the Saints. However, the move did not produce the desired results for Hurts and the offense.

Philadelphia struggled offensively throughout the season, ultimately leading Sirianni to part ways with Patullo. Sean Mannion has since taken over as offensive coordinator, ushering in a new system and renewed optimism within the locker room.

With a revamped offensive approach, Brown could decide to stay in Philadelphia for at least one more season. Reports suggest Mannion’s scheme will be more aggressive and dynamic, potentially helping the Eagles rediscover the offensive rhythm they displayed under Moore.

Are there teams interested in A.J. Brown?

If the Eagles were to make Brown available, there would undoubtedly be strong interest across the league. He remains one of the NFL’s top wide receivers and a proven veteran capable of elevating any passing attack.

Teams such as the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Cleveland Browns could monitor his situation closely. However, Brown would likely prefer joining a true contender. Among those mentioned, Denver may present the most appealing competitive opportunity if a trade were to materialize.

Sirianni comes from Frank Reich’s coaching tree, as he was Reich’s offensive coordinator when Reich was the Colts head coach. According to Dan Pompei of The Athletic, Sirianni and Reich talked about the possibility of Reich becoming Sirianni’s adviser.

Reich was utimately named the Jets offensive coordinator. But the fact is he was close to work for Sirianni. The Eagles also were on the lookout for an OC after firing Kevin Patullo, but Reich was never contemplated for that job on the Eagles organization.

Sirianni’s loyalty to Reich goes way back

Sirianni was named the Eagles HC and soon after, Reich was fired by the Colts. The Eagles then faced the Colts and when they won, Sirianni made sure that the Colts knew they screwed up by firing his mentor. He went and talked to the Colts fans declaring the win was dedicated to Frank Reich.

Sirianni remains close to the ones who gave him a chance to flourish in the NFL. Now, he has gone to two Super Bowls, winning one of them. Hence, it’s not at all shocking that Sirianni spoke to Reich to reunite, even if that didn’t came to fruition.

Reich does have a past with the Eagles

Reich was instrumental for the Eagles, as he was the OC for the team who won the Super Bowl in 2017. That’s what granted him a last-minute candidacy to become the Colts HC. And it was all going great, until a shocking retirement from quarterback Andrew Luck sent the team backwards.

That caused Reich to fight an uphill battle. He was then also fired 11 games into his first’s season with the Panthers. However, he is still cashing the checks from Carolina, all the way through to 2026. Now, Reich has the chance to remind everyone that he is a brilliant offensive mind.

Vic Fangio has long been one of Sirianni’s trusted lieutenants during one of the Eagles’ most successful eras. However, his future as a coordinator with the franchise was uncertain after last season, to the point that many speculated about his retirement.

The defensive coordinator position in Philly is still vacant, and the idea of Fangio returning is very much on the table. That’s according to Mike Garafolo on X: “As @JimmyKempski reports here, Vic Fangio’s return has been uncertain and sort of still is. It’s been leaning to the positive recently but could change again. The #Eagles haven’t confirmed or denied anything to this point.”

Fangio’s success in Philadelphia

Vic Fangio’s tenure as Defensive Coordinator was the definitive engine behind the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX title, ushering in a dominant era alongside Nick Sirianni. By blending his signature tactical discipline with Sirianni’s aggressive culture, Fangio built a schematic fortress that redefined Philadelphia’s identity and silenced high-powered offenses throughout the playoffs.

This partnership didn’t just secure a championship; it established a defensive blueprint of elite coverage and surgical pressure that has set the gold standard for the entire league, proving that Fangio’s veteran wisdom was the final piece needed to complete Sirianni’s vision for a dynasty.

Candidates for the DC position

With Vic Fangio’s future as Defensive Coordinator still shrouded in uncertainty following reports of a potential retirement, the Philadelphia Eagles have proactively interviewed former coordinators Jonathan Gannon and Jim Schwartz.

These high-profile meetings suggest the front office is bracing for a possible vacancy, seeking a proven leader who can maintain defensive continuity while the organization awaits Fangio’s final decision regarding the 2026 season.

“New Eagles OC Sean Mannion will be calling plays for Philadelphia, per source. Mannion did not call plays during his two seasons in Green Bay,” Dianna Russini wrote on X while detailing Mannion’s new role with the Eagles.

Russini also clarified that the Eagles’ head coach will continue to have a significant voice in how the offense operates, particularly in scoring situations. “Nick Sirianni will, of course, have an influence on the offense too.”

Some wanted Sirianni to take over play-calling duties

Before Mannion was hired, some fans and reporters were pushing for Nick Sirianni to serve as the play caller for the 2026 NFL season. While that idea isn’t unusual around the league, it runs counter to the traditional role of the offensive coordinator.

“They have Nick Sirianni, who could always call the offense if they can’t find anybody worthy of doing the job,” Adam Schefter said on ESPN, echoing a sentiment that had been circulating at the time.

It also emerged that there were certain “adjustments” made among the coaching staff during last season. According to Jeff McLane, Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland had his run-game coordinator responsibilities taken away at some point during the year, although it remains unclear whether that decision came directly from Sirianni.

The year after hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy and putting up incredible numbers on offense, the Eagles saw their offensive unit hit a wall throughout the NFL season. As that regular-season trend carried into the postseason—and Philadelphia was knocked out in the first round at home by the San Francisco 49ers—the Eagles decided to fire Patullo. Now, the offensive coordinator job is up for grabs in the City of Brotherly Love. But someone has yet to be appointed.

As reported by Dianna Russini, Chicago Bears OC Declan Doyle and LSU Tigers OC Charlie Weis Jr. have both turned themselves down from consideration to join Sirianni’s staff in the 2026 NFL season.

Instead, both offensive coaches will stay with their current teams. Doyle will remain alongside Ben Johnson in Chicago, while Weis Jr. will stay alongside Lane Kiffin, as he embarks in his first year in Baton Rouge.

Eagles have trouble finding new OC

With the likes of Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jalen Hurts, the Eagles should have no trouble finding an offensive guru willing to take the job. There are some concerns about tension within the locker room, but the raw talent on the field should be enough to outweigh that noise. However, after an insider confirmed that two candidates have shut the door on Philadelphia, it seems the Eagles are facing a tougher task than expected.

Fan favorite is off the board

After fans called for Patullo to be fired all season long—enduring a seemingly endless loop of three-and-outs on offense—they finally had their wish fulfilled, but only when it was too late.

Soon after Patullo packed his bags, the consensus fan-favorite candidate to replace him was former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, whose creativity on offense might be second to none in the NFL. McDaniel showed he wasn’t quite suited to lead an entire team in Miami, but as an offensive coordinator, he could be as good as any.

However, before Philadelphia could deep-dive into its pursuit of McDaniel, the Los Angeles Chargers chimed in and have now confirmed that McDaniel will be their offensive coordinator in 2026.

In a social media post from the Eagles‘ profiles, Sirianni stated that the team will relieve Kevin Patullo from the offensive coordinator duties. While Patullo will no longer be the OC, Sirianni is open to keeping Patullo on staff, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

In 2025, the offense took a hit as Patullo took over the coordinator role following Kellen Moore’s departure. Patullo failed to properly utilize wide receiver AJ Brown and running back Saquon Barkley, who were key for the team’s Super Bowl win in the 2024 season.

Another year, another playcaller for Jalen Hurts

Since his college days, Jalen Hurts has had too many playcallers. In fact just one has remained for longer than a year. Hurts is a guy who has overcome plenty of obstacles en route to a successful career, but this one must take the cake.

According to Ari Meirov, this is the list of playcallers that have worked with Hurts since 2016:

• Alabama: Lane Kiffin (2016)
• Alabama: Brian Daboll (2017)
• Alabama: Mike Locksley (2018)
• Oklahoma: Lincoln Riley (2019)
• Eagles: Doug Pederson (2020)
• Eagles: Shane Steichen (2021–22)
• Eagles: Brian Johnson (2023)
• Eagles: Kellen Moore (2024)
• Eagles: Kevin Patullo (2025)

Sirianni has to right the ship

The Eagles are an absolute bizarre team right now. Arguably the most talented team in the NFL, it’s also incredibly dysfunctional. The locker room never seems to be getting along, and now the results are not accompanying the team, the drama is at an all-time high.

After the game, Nick Sirianni faced the media and was asked about the team’s immediate plans, specifically regarding offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, whose play-calling has been questioned.

“There will be time to evaluate everybody’s performance,” Sirianni said, via a transcript from the team. “Right now, I feel for all our guys in the locker room, all the players, all the coaches, the front office, everybody that works so hard, the fans that come out and support us, Mr. [team owner Jeffrey] Lurie. I feel for all of us, all of them, and there’ll be time to evaluate everything coming up.”

Over the past four seasons, the Eagles have had four offensive coordinators. While nothing is certain yet, speculation is growing that the list could reach five next season if Kevin Patullo loses his job.

A decision that could change the Eagles’ future

The 2026 NFC Wild Card game ended in heartbreak for the Eagles as Patullo’s controversial play call on a decisive fourth-and-11 with just 43 seconds remaining sealed their 23-19 loss to the 49ers.

Faced with a four-corner defense specifically designed to stop deep passes, Patullo opted for an ordinary four-receiver vertical concept that resulted in an incomplete pass into double coverage.

Jalen Hurts visibly showed his frustration in the huddle, with cameras capturing his look of disbelief toward the sideline, a reaction that underscored the growing friction between the franchise quarterback and his offensive coordinator’s “predictable” late-game strategy.

Nick Sirianni’s current situation

Following their Super Bowl LIX victory, Nick Sirianni solidified his future with the Philadelphia Eagles by signing a massive multi-year contract extension in May 2025. This deal, reportedly worth over $15 million annually, effectively replaced the final year of his original contract and rewarded him for becoming the first coach to lead his team to four straight playoff appearances and two conference titles in his first four seasons.

For now, judging by his recent comments, the idea of replacing his starting QB for the next game isn’t in the coach’s plans. In fact, he emphatically stated that it would be ridiculous to bench Hurts over a dip in performance.

“I think that’s ridiculous. . . . I know every time I go out in that field with Jalen Hurts as our quarterback, we have a chance to win the game,” Sirianni said via nbcsports.com. “That’s something that’s been proven. We’ve won a lot, a lot of football games.”

Jalen Hurts has been a cornerstone of this team in recent years, even earning MVP honors in the latest SB earlier this year. For now, Sirianni trusts that his star player can regain the level of performance that once carried the team to the pinnacle of NFL glory.

A worthy season for Hurts

Despite a recent dip in performance over the last few games, Jalen Hurts is still compiling a productive season overall. He has thrown for 2,754 yards and registered 19 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions.

His strong play is further reflected by a solid 51.9 Quarterback Rating, underscoring his value to the offense throughout the campaign. The support from his coach in a way compels the QB to raise the bar once again and get back on the path to victory immediately.

Do the Eagles still have a shot at the playoffs?

Despite recent losses, the Eagles still have a strong chance of making the postseason. According to the NFL’s official site, their playoff odds stand at 92% heading into Week 15, and a win over the Raiders could boost that number to 95%.

They currently sit atop the NFC East with eight wins and five losses. The Cowboys, their closest pursuer, hold a 6-6-1 record and remain on the lookout for what might happen in these final weeks.

Speaking to Tim McManus of ESPN.com, Sirianni responded “We’re not changing the playcaller, but we will evaluate everything. It’s never just about one person. You win as a team, you lose as a team and you try to evaluate everything, win, lose or draw, and get better from it.” Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo hasn’t been able to have a consistent unit all year long, but Sirianni is not ready to pull the plug.

For instance, the Detroit Lions made that decision earlier in the season. OC John Morton wasn’t having great success in an uber-talented offense, and head coach Dan Campbell took the playcalling duties off of him.

Patullo’s credibility is taking a big hit

If you aren’t able to get a poor offense going, chances are you won’t be blamed. But the Eagles are another story. This is an offense that has worked before, won a Super Bowl making points at will. Since Patullo took the offense, it’s dimmed heavily.

Patullo has worked with Sirianni since their time at the Colts. Sirianni was the OC while Patullo served as the Wide Receivers coach and pass game specialist. When Sirianni was appointed as the Eagles’ HC, Patullo became the pass game coordinator and after Kellen Moore left, he was promoted to OC. However, he hasn’t made Jalen Hurts or any of the offensive players look their best.

Is Nick Sirianni coordinator-dependent?

The narrative floating around Sirianni’s name is that he depends heavily on his coordinators. For instance, there are head coaches that call plays offensively or defensively. Others don’t call plays, but can change coordinators without the team missing a step, that hasn’t been the case with Sirianni.

Siriani’s success has been with Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore as offensive coordinators. Both are so good, that they are NFL head coaches now. With Patullo and Brian Johnson, the team looked bad offensively and Sirianni couldn’t right the wrongs. Sticking with Patullo as playcaller might also be an indictment on Sirianni as a head coach.