Birds 365 Recap: OC Search Nears Decision, Free Agency Preview, and Stoutland's Future

Zander Krause and John McMullen were back for a packed Thursday edition of Birds 365, covering the Eagles' offensive coordinator search, a notable report on Jeff Stoutland, a deep dive into free agency, and some fiery thoughts on the NFL Hall of Fame process.

OC Search: Day 17 and Counting

The Eagles' offensive coordinator search has reached Day 17 with Jim Bob Cooter and Sean Mannion both brought back for second interviews. The team has also requested to speak with Davis Webb, though McMullen believes that's unlikely to materialize given Webb's other options in Denver, Baltimore, and New York.

McMullen opened the show with a passionate plea for the Eagles to prioritize finding a teacher — someone who can get the most out of the roster's physical talent — rather than chasing schematic trends. He pointed out that the Eagles ran the same offense for five years and beat everybody, and argued that Matt Nagy remains the most proven option of those reportedly in the mix.

A key theme throughout the show was Jeffrey Lurie's impatience, which McMullen called the 'eye of the storm' in why the Eagles have struggled to land a coordinator. Candidates with significant options — including Mike McDaniel, Brian Dabel, and Davis Webb — have not been choosing Philadelphia, and others like Bobby Slowik and Zach Robinson have taken off ramps to other teams.

Stoutland's Run Game Role in Question

The show also addressed a report from Jeff McLane indicating that Jeff Stoutland may have had his run game coordinating duties removed at some point during the 2025 season. McMullen said this was the first he'd heard of it and called the 'run game coordinator' title largely ceremonial — comparing it to a classic Cheers episode where employees got titles instead of raises.

That said, McMullen acknowledged that Stoutland's future, along with that of offensive assistants Jamal Singleton, Aaron Morehead, and Jason Michael, is entirely dependent on who the Eagles hire as OC and how much autonomy that person is given.

Free Agency: Jaelan Phillips Tops the Board

McMullen identified Jaelan Phillips as the Eagles' top free agent priority, calling him the linchpin of the defense's turnaround. He projected a deal in the range of five years at roughly $25 million per year with around $60 million guaranteed, noting the contract would likely include voidable years making it functionally a two-year commitment.

Nakobe Dean is expected to leave despite being one of McMullen's favorite players on the team, with Jihad Campbell poised to step into the starting lineup. Reed Blankenship is seen as a near-certainty to return at a modest price, while Dallas Goedert and A.J. Brown both face uncertain futures in Philadelphia.

Belichick Hall of Fame Controversy

Both hosts were outspoken about Bill Belichick being denied first-ballot Hall of Fame entry. McMullen cited Seth Wickersham's book and a conversation between Roger Goodell and Mike Shanahan, where Shanahan admitted sign-stealing has been going on forever and that he wished he'd thought to videotape signals. Krause argued that anyone who didn't vote for Belichick is unfit to hold a Hall of Fame vote.