Eagles QB Coach Search: Why This Hire Matters More Than Ever Under Sean Mannion

The Eagles have their offensive coordinator. Sean Mannion is in the building. The coaching staff is nearly complete. But there's one glaring vacancy left — and it might be the most important assistant hire Philly makes this offseason: quarterback coach.

This isn't a normal year for the position. Mannion is bringing a Shanahan-McVay offensive system to Philadelphia, and that scheme demands specific things from a quarterback — footwork patterns, timing concepts, pre-snap reads — that are fundamentally different from what Jalen Hurts has been running. The QB coach isn't just a sounding board anymore. He's the translator between Mannion's playbook and Hurts' skill set.

The Names to Know

Three candidates have emerged at the top of the Eagles' list. Greg Olson is the veteran option — he was quietly removed from the Raiders' website, making him a free agent. Olson has decades of NFL experience coaching quarterbacks and calling plays, and his knowledge of timing-based passing games fits what Mannion wants to install. He'd be the safe, steady hand.

Then there's Connor Singler, the wildcard. At just 30 years old, Singler comes from Arizona and has already interviewed for the job. He's young, hungry, and represents the new wave of coaching — guys who grew up studying the exact Shanahan-McVay concepts Mannion wants to run. Sometimes the best teacher isn't the oldest one in the room. Sometimes it's the one who speaks the language natively.

Scott Lefler rounds out the list, though he's still under contract, which complicates things. The Eagles would need permission to even formally pursue him, and with the NFL Combine approaching, time is ticking.

Why This Hire Is Different in 2026

In previous years, the Eagles' QB coach was more of a complementary piece — someone who reinforced the existing system. But Mannion's arrival changes the equation entirely. The Shanahan-McVay tree runs on rhythm-based drops, boot-action concepts, and a timing structure that requires precision footwork. Hurts has elite mobility and arm talent, but his mechanical tendencies lean toward improvisation and extension plays.

The QB coach will be the person in Hurts' ear every single day, drilling new footwork patterns, adjusting his internal clock, and bridging the gap between what he does naturally and what the offense demands. If Mannion installs the scheme and the QB coach can't teach Hurts to execute it, the whole thing falls apart. That's not hyperbole — it's the reality of installing a new system with a quarterback who's been doing it differently for four years.

The Combine Changes Everything

The NFL Combine is right around the corner, and that's when the coaching carousel truly stops spinning. Teams finalize their staffs, start scheming for free agency and the draft, and lock in their offensive identity. The Eagles need this hire made before Indianapolis. Walking into the Combine without a QB coach means walking in without a complete picture of how they're developing their most important player.

Personally, the Olson hire makes the most sense. Singler is intriguing as a long-term play, but the Eagles don't have the luxury of a learning curve at this position right now. They need someone who can walk into the building Day 1 and start teaching Hurts a new language. Olson can do that. Either way, expect this to be wrapped up within the next week.