NEWSLETTER
Teams looking to mimic the Sean McVay/Los Angeles Rams model might look to the Philadelphia Eagles for some inspiration.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports the Chicago Bears are setting up an interview with Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. In large part because Carson Wentz took major steps in his development from Year 1 to Year 2, and Philadelphia locked up the top seed on the NFC side of the playoff bracket, DeFilippo is going to be one of the top candidates for several head coach openings. Consider how much of the organization’s future GM Ryan Pace placed at the feet of Mitch Trubisky when he targeted him (quietly) for months before the 2017 draft, and then traded up to select him. It’s not a stretch to think that the selection of the next head coach will be driven largely by the need to find the right person to guide and develop a Trubisky-led offense.
You can add the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts to the list of teams expected to target DeFilippo in the offseason, according to NFL insider Adam Caplan.
DeFilippo is definitely going to be a hot name for teams with eyes on improving their current quarterback situation, so it’s likely Chicago will be fighting off several other teams for his services if he emerges as a favorite after an interview with GM Ryan Pace. And why wouldn’t he be? Just look how highly Eagles head coach Doug Pederson speaks of DeFilippo with regards to Carson Wentz’s development:
Eagles coach Doug Pederson raved about John DeFilippo's impact on Carson Wentz. pic.twitter.com/23sN8U74qa
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) January 1, 2018
Wentz was a stud in 2017, and is among the favorites to land the NFL’s MVP award after completing 60.2 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,296 yards and 33 touchdowns, limiting his interceptions to 7, and posting an impressive 101.9 passer rating. It’s the kind of leap Mitch Trubisky has eyes on making in 2018, so there aren’t too many better candidates equipped to help him in reaching that goal. The blueprint is definitely there and the Bears got a front row seat to what it looks like when they were thrashed by the Eagles in November.
And because the Eagles have a playoff bye this week, DeFilippo will have plenty of time to speak with teams who put in their interview requests. Still, it’s worth noting no team can announce DeFilippo’s hiring until Philadelphia’s season ends. So if the Eagles make a Super Bowl run, the team hiring him would be waiting until after February 4 to make it official.
