Eagles OC Search Day 16: No Offers Made, Sean Mannion Gets Second Interview as Davis Webb Enters Mix

The Philadelphia Eagles' search for an offensive coordinator entered its 16th day on Wednesday with no end in sight. On Birds 365, insider John McMullen delivered a critical piece of information: the Eagles have not formally offered the job to anyone.

No Offers, Despite the Narrative

McMullen was emphatic that the narrative of candidates turning down the Eagles is 'completely off base.' He confirmed that while the Eagles likely would have offered the job to Mike McDaniel or Brian Daboll, the process never reached that point with either candidate. McDaniel chose the Chargers to work with Justin Herbert, while Daboll reportedly informed the Eagles during his interview that he planned to take the Tennessee Titans OC job under Robert Salah if he didn't land a head coaching position with the Raiders.

When candidates like Declan Doyle and Charlie Weiss Jr. withdrew, McMullen explained this is standard practice in the NFL — an indication the candidate was not getting the job, not that they were turning it down. 'That's sort of a saving face measurement. You allow the coaches who aren't getting the job to do that,' McMullen said.

Sean Mannion: The Surprising Candidate

Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising development is Sean Mannion's second interview. The former backup quarterback has only two years of coaching experience after spending his playing career behind the likes of Jared Goff in Los Angeles, where he worked under Sean McVay. He also spent time with Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota and Matt LaFleur's coaching staff. While his exposure to top offensive minds is notable, he has never called plays at any level.

Mike Gill compared the trend to what's happening across professional sports: 'Everyone's trying to find the guy who was the backup catcher and he just got done playing and he's right there to connect with the guys.' He noted the parallel to how J.J. Watt has been lauded as an analyst for his recent connection to current players versus Tony Romo, who has become more removed from the game.

McMullen, however, raised a critical concern: 'This is not the place for growing pains. Jeffrey Lurie does not have the patience to wait for a guy to grow on the job.'

Davis Webb and the Expanding List

The Eagles requested permission to interview Davis Webb, who is also drawing interest from the Giants and Ravens for their OC openings. However, McMullen noted that Denver fired their offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi — a move that appears designed to clear the path for Webb's promotion to Broncos OC. That would make Webb an unlikely landing spot for Philadelphia.

McMullen also mentioned Tanner Engstrand, who was fired by the Jets, as a potential name to watch. Other known candidates still in the mix include Matt Nagy, Jim Bob Cooter, Frank Smith, Jared Johnson, and Charles Grizzard.

Why Is This Taking So Long?

McMullen identified the Eagles' approach as fundamentally different from the rest of the league. While other teams act with urgency, the Eagles treat the process as both a search for a coordinator and a 'fact-finding mission' to stay ahead of NFL trends. Jeffrey Lurie has spoken about this philosophy in past coaching searches.

The downside, McMullen argued, is that candidates get 'antsy' and take off-ramps. Bobby Slowik took the Dolphins OC job. Mike Kafka went to Detroit. Zach Robinson took the Tampa Bay job when they moved quickly with an offer. 'You can't wait forever,' McMullen said. 'Maybe he does think the Eagles are a better job, but when somebody else offers, he takes it.'

McMullen's biggest concern was the apparent lack of contingency planning: 'Usually the Eagles are very good with contingencies. I don't get the feeling they were ready for being turned down by McDaniel and Daboll as ready as they should have been.'

Six Reasons Candidates May Hesitate

Mike Gill outlined six factors that could give candidates pause: 1) Jalen Hurts' limitations as a passer — some coordinators would prefer to run their offense with a different quarterback style. 2) Jeff Stoutland's role as run game coordinator — some candidates want to install their own run scheme. 3) Questions about play-calling autonomy despite the Eagles' assurances. 4) A.J. Brown's uncertain future — the job looks different without a top-tier receiver. 5) Lane Johnson's potential retirement and the state of the offensive line. 6) The precedent set by Brian Johnson and Kevin Patullo being fired despite winning seasons.

Brandon Lee Gowton pushed back on one popular narrative, calling the idea that Philadelphia's media and fans are the primary deterrent 'so weak.' He acknowledged it may be a small factor but said it is not the main reason candidates are passing on the job.

The Matt Nagy Case

Multiple guests and hosts circled back to Matt Nagy as a logical choice. His resume includes a 34-31 record as head coach in Chicago, a playoff appearance with Mitch Trubisky, Coach of the Year honors, and extensive play-calling experience. Andy Reid recently praised Nagy publicly, and McMullen noted the Eagles' history of calling Reid for coaching recommendations — a strategy that produced Doug Pederson and a Super Bowl championship.

Gowton offered a contrarian view, arguing that with the 2026 Eagles' roster in flux, he'd prefer the Eagles take a bigger swing on an innovative mind rather than settling for competency. 'I'm more willing to take a big risk than I am willing to play it safe,' Gowton said.

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