January 22, 2024   5 MIN READ

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Eagles Need Two New Coordinators; Bears, Jags Hire New OC/DC

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The Philadelphia Eagles will be searching for new coordinators on both sides of the ball. 

Derrick Gunn, host of “Gunn On One” presented by “Inside The Birds,” confirmed that offensive coordinator Brian Johnson is not expected to return to the team in 2024.

Nick Sirianni, Brian Johnson

Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson will not return in 2024.

Despite entering the season as a hot name in the coaching ranks, the Eagles’ offense collapsed in the final seven weeks of the season with Johnson taking the fall as the primary playcaller. 

It was Johnson’s first season as an NFL coordinator. Before joining the Eagles as quarterbacks coach in 2021, the 36-year-old had spent his entire coaching career in college, most notably as the OC and quarterbacks coach for Florida. 

In a weird offseason for Johnson, he has also received multiple interviews for a head coaching position with the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Falcons. The Carolina Panthers also put in a request to interview him but are no longer planning to do so, per The Athletic.

With Head Coach Nick Sirianni seemingly back to pick Johnson’s replacement, ITB’s Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan have listed current Indianapolis Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter and Houston Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson as names to keep an eye on.

On the defensive search, the Eagles are sticking with names familiar to owner Jeffery Lurie so far, reportedly interviewing Ron Rivera, linebackers coach for the team from 1999-2003 and Mike Caldwell, who played for the Birds from 1998-2001 and was an assistant coach from 2008-12.

Callahan To Titans

The Titans on Monday night moved closer to finding their new head coach.

The team reportedly was finalizing an agreement with Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to fill the void left by its firing of Mike Vrabel.

Callahan spent his last five seasons presiding over the Bengals’ offense.

Harbaugh Return

Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh may finally return to the NFL after a decade in the college ranks.

Per ESPN, Harbaugh is set to interview with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers join the Atlanta Falcons as the teams interviewing Harbaugh twice. 

For the reigning NCAA champion head coach, the Chargers could present the quickest path to Super Bowl contention with a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert already in place.

Harbaugh is no stranger to the west coast. Before his nine seasons with Michigan, he was the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons, which was preceded by four seasons at Stanford and three seasons with the University of San Diego.

The Chargers is where his NFL playing career ended as well. Harbaugh was the team’s starting quarterback from 1999-2000.

Doug Finds DC

The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to hire Ryan Nielson at defensive coordinator, per ESPN.

Nielson, along with Wink Martindale, was one of the initial names reported as an option for the now-vacant Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator job.

It will be the third team in three years for Nielson, who was a co-coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in 2022 and oversaw the Atlanta Falcons defensive unit in 2023. He replaces Mike Caldwell who was fired by Head Coach Doug Pederson after two seasons.

New Look Bears

Per NFL Network, the Chicago Bears have made a decision at offensive coordinator with the hiring of Shane Waldron. 

During his time as the Seattle Seahawks OC, Waldron guided a top 10 scoring offense into the playoffs following the trade of franchise quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022.

Waldron comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, beginning as a tight ends coach for the Rams in 2017 before moving to passing game coordinator from 2018-20.

With an OC now in place, an even more important decision awaits the Bears, who have the option of taking a generational quarterback prospect in Caleb Williams with the number one overall pick in the 2024 draft or to stick with a still-developing Justin Fields.

Titans Moving for HC

On the first day that in-person interviews with coaches under contract are permitted, the Tennessee Titans are putting together a series of names to meet with.

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, and Cincinnati Bengals OC Brian Callahan are reportedly the head coaching candidates that will have an in-person interview with the Titans.

 

The Titans previously announced they completed an in-person interview with former Stanford Head Coach David Shaw, permissible with him not being under contract with a team.

Names that the Titans have conducted a virtual interview with that are still on the market are former Eagles OC Brian Johnson, Lions DC Aaron Glenn, Texans OC Bobby Slowik, Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, and Giants OC Mike Kafka.

Quinn continues to be a hot name in teams’ head coaching search. Per ESPN, he will also be interviewing with the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks.

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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