Jeff Stoutland's Future Is the Eagles' Most Overlooked Offseason Question — And McMullen Says Fans Should Be Worried

While the entire Eagles media landscape fixates on Vic Fangio's retirement deliberation, a potentially equally devastating coaching departure is brewing in plain sight. On Monday's Birds 365, a super chat from a viewer named Philly Don cut straight to the heart of a storyline nobody seems to be talking about: What happens if Jeff Stoutland leaves?

All the talk about Vic, but the O-line and Stoutland is the biggest concern in my opinion. — Philly Don, Birds 365 viewer

John McMullen did not dismiss the concern. Instead, he validated it — and then painted a picture of replacement options that should make every Eagles fan uncomfortable.

The Two-Sided Pressure on Stoutland

McMullen identified Stoutland as one of the three coaches most likely to be affected by the Sean Mannion transition, but not because the Eagles want to move on from him. The concern is that Stoutland may choose to move on from the Eagles.

Stoutland might be in the same boat when it comes to how long does he want to do this. And does he want to work for Sean Mannion? It's a two-way street. You've got an inexperienced guy, so it's going to be interesting. — John McMullen

That 'two-way street' comment is the key. Stoutland has been coaching offensive lines at the highest level for decades. He has coached under Chip Kelly, Doug Pederson, and Nick Sirianni. He helped develop Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and Landon Dickerson into one of the most dominant offensive line units in football. The idea of reporting to a 33-year-old first-time coordinator is, at minimum, an adjustment.

The Replacement Pool Is Shallow

If Stoutland does decide to step away, the Eagles face a brutal reality: the best offensive line coaches have already been hired elsewhere. McMullen specifically mentioned Dwayne Ledford, the well-respected former Atlanta offensive line coach who was available briefly before being scooped up by Baltimore.

With the top-tier candidates off the board, McMullen said the most realistic replacements would come from Mannion's limited coaching network in Green Bay. He identified Eddie Gordon, the Packers' assistant offensive line coach, and Jeremiah Colon, an offensive assistant with an O-line background, as the types of candidates the Eagles would likely target.

If you're moving on from Jeff Stoutland, you're probably going to get a young guy who's unproven. And you're taking a steep drop — but you're taking a steep drop anyway when you move on from Jeff Stoutland. — John McMullen

The Offensive Line Health Factor

Compounding the coaching question is the physical condition of the Eagles' offensive line. A viewer named Latif asked whether any offensive linemen had already undergone surgery this offseason, and McMullen's answer highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the unit.

McMullen noted that the Eagles do not provide media access to players during this period, so details are scarce. But he flagged Lane Johnson as a particular concern.

Landon certainly is going to have some surgeries, maybe multiple. Lane's going to be interesting — if he has to have surgery after not having surgery, that could be a big downfall. — John McMullen

The combination of potential coaching upheaval and uncertain player health makes the offensive line arguably the most volatile position group heading into 2026. If both Stoutland and Fangio were to leave, the Eagles would be replacing the two most important assistant coaches on their staff in the same offseason — a scenario that would test even the most talented roster.

The Cliff Kingsbury Fantasy

Krause took a moment to address a narrative that has been circulating among fans: the idea that the Eagles should have fired Stoutland in order to land Cliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. His reaction was visceral.

I heard a lot of fans last week saying they were in favor of firing Stoutland so that they could land Cliff Kingsbury. I'm like, what has Cliff Kingsbury ever done for you? Now you want to fire Jeff Stoutland? Nobody complained about the running game when they were historic. — Zander Krause

McMullen agreed, adding that the Eagles would 'never fire Jeff Stoutland' and that any departure would be characterized as a 'mutual parting of the ways.' The respect the organization has for Stoutland is genuine and deep — but respect alone may not be enough to keep a legendary coach working under circumstances he finds untenable.

The Quiet Crisis

Philly Don was right to raise the alarm. The Vic Fangio situation dominates headlines because of its immediacy and drama, but the Stoutland question could have equally profound consequences for the Eagles' 2026 season. An offensive line transitioning to a new coaching voice, potentially recovering from multiple surgeries, and adjusting to a first-time play caller is a recipe for the kind of early-season struggles that can derail even the most talented teams. The Eagles need Jeff Stoutland as badly as they need Vic Fangio. Whether they can keep both may define their championship window.