NFL reporter Jeff Kerr Calls Out Eagles Offseason 'Engagement Farming' at All-Time High

The Philadelphia Eagles are barely into their 2026 offseason, and the hot take machine is already running at full speed. When NFL reporter Jeff Kerr joined Birds 365 with Zander Krause and John McMullen on Monday morning, his opening salvo set the tone for the entire conversation.

Engagement farming is at an all-time high, Zander Krause. No one wants the Eagles offensive coordinator job. Jalen Hurts is the problem. You name it. — Jeff Kerr, CBS Sports

It was a cutting assessment, and one that resonated with anyone who has tried to separate real Eagles news from manufactured controversy this winter. The hiring of Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator, the addition of Josh Grizzard as passing game coordinator, and the Vic Fangio retirement chatter have all been fertile ground for content creators more interested in clicks than context.

The Offseason 'List' Phenomenon

McMullen highlighted one of the more absurd examples of the genre. He recalled a media personality creating a "rooting guide" for the NFL playoffs that encouraged Eagles fans to root for the Rams over the Seahawks — not for any football reason, but to keep Sam Darnold below Jalen Hurts on some imaginary offseason power ranking.

He said you should be rooting for the Rams over the Seahawks because the offseason list — if the Seahawks win — will have Sam Darnold over Jalen Hurts. I'm like, who gives a damn about an offseason list? — John McMullen

The absurdity speaks for itself. In a world where Darnold is now starting in Super Bowl LX for the Seahawks, the take has aged like milk left in the sun. But it illustrates the broader point Kerr was making: too much of the Eagles discourse is driven by engagement algorithms rather than genuine football analysis.

Fake Narratives and Real Consequences

Kerr was particularly pointed about the way certain narratives get constructed around the Eagles organization. The idea that "no one wants the OC job" was a popular refrain during the lengthy coordinator search, despite the fact that 21 offensive coordinator positions were open across the NFL this offseason — a staggering number that reflects a league-wide problem with coaching turnover, not an Eagles-specific dysfunction.

As McMullen noted, the only offensive play-callers with any real continuity are head coaches who call their own plays. The coordinator carousel is an NFL-wide epidemic, not a Philadelphia disease.

There were 21 offensive coordinator positions available this year. — Jeff Kerr

The Broader Media Literacy Lesson

Kerr, who covers the NFL nationally for CBS Sports and has deep roots in Philadelphia sports media, was clear-eyed about the incentive structure driving the noise. Content creation is a business, and outrage generates more engagement than nuance. The Eagles — with their massive, passionate fan base — are the perfect target for manufactured controversy.

But Kerr also pushed back on the idea that this means Eagles fans should dismiss all criticism. The key is discerning between legitimate analysis and engagement farming. Real concerns exist about the Eagles' offensive coaching staff, about AJ Brown's future, about what happens when Vic Fangio eventually retires. Those are fair topics for debate.

What is not fair is manufacturing a crisis where none exists simply because "Eagles chaos" drives more clicks than "Eagles are methodically building their coaching staff."

The Bottom Line

The Eagles offseason will provide plenty of genuine storylines without anyone needing to fabricate them. Jeff Kerr's message to Birds 365 listeners was simple: be a critical consumer of the content you consume. Not every hot take is created equal, and in the engagement farming era, the loudest voices are not always the most informed ones.

As Kerr put it when discussing media personalities who venture outside their lane of expertise: "Stay in your lane when it comes to the other sports. You have no idea what you're talking about." It is advice that applies equally to those constructing Eagles narratives out of thin air.

Watch the full Birds 365 episode from Monday, February 2, 2026 on the JAKIB Sports YouTube channel.