With Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni expected to retain his title for the 2024 season, major moves already have taken place regarding his staff.
According to several reports, defensive coordinator Sean Desai was fired over the weekend. Desai had been replaced by senior defensive assistant and former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia back on Dec. 16. It was a baffling move, but one intended to spark the team's defense. Desai kept the title of defensive coordinator in the coaches’ box, but Patricia called all the defensive plays from the sideline.
As fans and folks involved in PA online gambling know, it didn't help. The Eagles ended the season ranked 31st in the league in pass defense (252.7 yards per game) and 30th in points allowed per game (25.2). Patricia, whose contract ran out at the end of the season, is not expected to return and will explore other opportunities within the league, according to several news outlets.
All of this because a solid 10-1 season - one then showing the Eagles as serious contenders on PA sports betting apps - turned into disaster as Philadelphia lost six of its last seven games. The Birds dropped to the fifth seed and wrapped it all up with a bow in a lethargic 32-9 road loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Game on Jan. 15.
So, then, who are the candidates to revamp, reorganize and reenergize the Philly defense? PennStakes.com – your source for PA sportsbook bonuses - provides a list below of possible hires and probable odds:
Hypothetical Odds on Next Eagles DC
Familiar NFC East Names Top List
The top three names on the list have NFC East ties. And one is a former Eagles player.
Topping the list is blitz-happy former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale at +500 (16.7% chance). Next up at +600 are the most recent Washington Commanders head coach, Ron Rivera, and Cowboys secondary coach Al Harris.
Rivera was a linebackers coach for the Eagles from 1998-2003 under Andy Reid and Harris wore No. 31 as a cornerback for the Eagles and Reid during the same time (1998-2002).
Other names on our list are a pair of college coordinators, Michigan’s Jesse Minter and Georgia’s Glenn Schumann, a pair of former NFL defensive coordinators, Ejiro Evero (Panthers) and Leslie Frazier (most recently with Bills), and Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi.
Other names not on the list have odds of +700 (12.5%).
Whoever the Eagles hire, the City of Brotherly Love will pray and hope for a change that is better than what they endured the last two months of the 2023 season. Stay tuned to PennStakes.com, where you also will find the best PA online casino promos.
