The Eagles could lose their offensive coordinator for a second straight year.
According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Brian Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, will be interviewing for the head coaching position of the Carolina Panthers. Johnson refused to participate in the conversation when asked to validate the reports from ESPN on Wednesday.
Johnson told reporters, “I don’t have any comments.” “All of my focus is about this week, and we’ve got a great opportunity with a special group of people to go out there and put on a great performance against Tampa Bay, and that’s where all of our focus and energy is at the moment.”
Johnson took over play calling duties this season, so it’s easy to blame him for any offensive setbacks the Eagles have had in 2023. However, the offense hasn’t been as good as it was during a dominant offensive season in 2022 that resulted in a Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles’ offensive DVOA ranking dropped from third in 2022 to tenth in 2023, regardless of how justified the criticism is, even though they largely fielded the same group of players.
Johnson is available for an interview, preferably by next Wednesday. The league made the interview procedure available here, if you’re curious in the specifics of the rules:
Recall that several of those regulations were broken by the Cardinals and former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon the previous season.
While the Eagles may not mind losing Johnson, they did not want to lose Gannon the previous season. Why? In any event that Johnson decides to take a head coaching position elsewhere, they stand to gain two third-round selections.
A plan to award teams for producing minority head coaches and front office staff members who go on to become head coaches and general managers for other organizations was approved by the NFL in November 2020.A team will receive two third-round picks in exchange for losing a minority coach or executive to a head coach or general manager position with another team.Though they are referred to as “Resolution JC-2A” picks, they work similarly to compensatory picks. Johnson would be considered a minority candidate because he is African-American.
It’s definitely important to mention that teams have previously been charged with conducting interviews with minority applicants merely to fulfill their “Rooney Rule” requirement. A minimum of one diverse candidate must be interviewed by any team looking to fill a head coaching position before a new hire is made.
Alec Halaby was also invited for an interview with the Panthers for their open general manager position. Most recognized for his work in the Eagles’ analytics division, Halaby is currently the Vice President of Football Operations and Strategy. Halaby apparently had a Wednesday GM job interview with the Commanders as well.
