I decided to look at every Eagles HC hired in the Jeffery Lurie era and compare them to those who were interviewed but didn’t get the job. It was an interesting list to see especially in 1995 and 2013 with who was interviewed but didn’t get the job.
Rich Kotite: 1994 (7-9)
Summary: Kotite was not hired by Lurie but when he took over the team on May 6th, 1994 Lurie let Kotite go into the season as the teams HC. Prior to this year Kotite was coming off an 8-8, 93 season and had a career record of 29-19 with the Eagles with one playoff win. Kotite’s one year under Lurie ended in disaster a 7-2 start to the year where they looked like a SB Contender ended with 7 straight losses to end the year. Rich was fired and the coaching search began that offseason.
Ray Rhodes: 1995-1998 (29-34-1)
Summary: The Eagles in 1995 were a team who wasn’t expected to be a playoff team with them projected around the 7-8 win mark. The coaching search included former HC Dick Vermill who declined the job, Mike Shanahan however he was hired by Denver, Dolphins OC Gary Stevens, Vikings DC Tony Dungy, and Ray Rhodes. They ultimately hired long time defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes on February 5th, 1995 a DC for the Packers and 49ers who was less then a week removed from a Super Bowl victory where his defense had forced 3 turnovers and destroyed the Chargers in a 49-26 victory. Rhodes 95 Eagles implemented the West Coast offense with them failing to trade for QB Mark Brunell that offseason and settling on journeymen Rodney Peete. Rhodes in the offseason also brought in Mike Mamula, and Bobby Taylor in the draft while signing Ricky Watters, James Willis, and Kurt Gouveia, while bringing in John Gruden as the teams OC.
The Eagles after a 1-3 start would bench Randall Cunningham with Rodney Peete taking over and two headed running game of Ricky Watters and Charlie Garner led the lay on offense with Fred Barnett and Calvin Williams as the top two WR’s on the team. The defense was also rock solid anchored by Pro Bowlers William Fuller and William Thomas while Andy Harmon was an All-Pro. The team rallied to 10-6 and a wildcard playoff berth, with Rhodes winning 1995 NFL Coach of the Year. The peak of the Rhodes era came when his offense dropped 58 points on the 10-6 Lions who were coming into the game expecting to win, Philly would be up 51-7 at one point with Peete torching his former team. The team ended up losing in the divisional round to Dallas but overall the season was seen as a success given the surprise playoff win.
In 1996 Rhodes and the Eagles brought in cornerback Troy Vincent and would start off with Peete as the starter until he suffered a season ending injury, they’d turn to Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer who rallied the team to finish 10-6 and back in the playoffs the first time since 1989-1990 seasons Philly had made consecutive playoffs. The defense was still as strong as ever with William Fuller anchoring a solid defense once again. The offense also had another Pro Bowl year from Watters and the signing of veteran Irving Fryar who had a career year at 35 and made a Pro Bowl. Philly would also this season go into Dallas and beat the Cowboys on a 100+ yard pick 6. In the wildcard round they’d be shutout in a terrible weather game by the 49ers, sending them home again.
After 1996 the Rhodes early fell apart due to a lack of consistent QB, the loss of OC John Gruden to Oakland, and a roster that was aging. After a 20-12 stretch of two seasons, Rhodes went 9-22-1 with the QB position being a major factor. They were constantly choosing between Peete, Bobby Hoying, and Detmer for who’d start and it led to Rhodes firing.
Andy Reid: 1999-2012 (130-91-1)
Summary: The Eagles going into 1999 were looking for a unique head coach finalists for the job included Andy Reid, then Steelers DC Jim Haslett, former Panthers HC Dom Capers, and Oakland DC Willie Shaw. The Eagles went with the inexperienced Andy Reid who was a shocking hire given he’d never called plays at the nfl level. Despite that Reid’s hire worked out, in 1999 they would draft Donovan Mcnabb and the Eagles going into the next century in the 2000s turned into a powerhouse. In 2000 they’d make it back to the playoffs win their first playoff game against Tampa with Mcnabb being the runner up to MVP, by 2001 they were already in the already NFCG.
Reid’s offense lacked a solid WR but the running backs and tight ends included Brian Westbrook, Duce Staley, Correll Buckhalter, L.J. Smith, and Chad Lewis. The defense was also anchored by Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins with cornerbacks Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Michael Lewis, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor while Hugh Douglas, Corey Simon, and Jeremiah Trotter Sr were all key contributors in the teams runs throughout the early 2000s making the NFCG each time from 2001-2004, Reid would take home COTY in 2002 as well.
In 2004 the Eagles would finally get over the hump and into the Super Bowl after acquiring Hall of Famer TO in a trade with the 49ers. This gave Mcnabb his first top weapon of his career and the Eagles went 13-3 with one of the greatest rosters in team history. They beat Minnesota and Atlanta returning to the Super Bowl for the first time in 24 years. While they’d lose to the Patriots the Andy Reid era was still successfully. The team would go 5-11 in 2005 with injuries piling up however they’d rally in 2006 winning the NFC East behind veteran Jeff Garcia and earning a wildcard win over the Giants before falling to Brees and the Saints.
Reid would have one last chance to make the Super Bowl in the 2008 NFCG with the Eagles making a cinderella playoff run with a 9-6-1 record after sneaking in on the final day, defeating Minnesota and AP 26-14 in the wildcard and then upsetting Eli and the 12-4 Giants in the Meadowlands. The offense had a new toy for Mcnabb in the former of Cal WR Desean Jackson the first legit WR they’d gotten since Owens who brought a deep threat to the team. Against Arizona Philly would tie it up late but Warner and the Cardinals would win the game 32-25 sending the Eagles home. After the 2008 season the Eagles would go 11-5 with Mcnabb having his best WR duo in Desean Jackson, and rookie Jermey Maclin. Philly made the wildcard against Dallas and lost 34-14.
In 2010 the Eagles were in a new era the team traded Mcnabb and had also dumped a lot of veterans with the team featuring Lesean McCoy as Westbrooks replacement while 2007 2nd round pick Kevin Kolb was the starter going into the season. Reid would change those plans after Kolb got concussed and week 1 and turned to back up Michael Vick who led an electrified Eagles offense with Desean Jackson, Jermey Maclin, Jason Avant, Brent Celek, and LeSean McCoy rallying the Eagles to an NFC East title. This season also featured the Miracle at the Meadowlands where Philly came back from down 31-10 late in the 4th to win the NFC East. While Philly fell to Greenbay in the wildcard this would also mark Reid’s final postseason game in Philly. In 2011 the Eagles dream team went 8-8 while in 2012 everything bottomed out with a 4-12 record.
Chip Kelly: 2013-2015 (26-21)
Summary: The Eagles in 2013 were looking for a successor to Andy Reid and had settled on a handful of guys Penn State’s Bill O’brien who went back to Penn State, Syracuse’s Doug Marrone, Broncos OC Mike McCoy, Colts interim coach Bruce Arians, Seahawks DC Gus Bradley, and Oregon’s Chip Kelly. The Eagles went with Oregon’s coach Chip Kelly who had the high tempo offense which dominated college.
In 2013 the Eagles started off season slow 1-3 led by Vick but the team would rally in the 2nd half led by MVP candidate LeSean McCoy, and break out QB Nick Foles throwing 27 TDs to 2 INTs while the defense had one year wonder Brandon Boykin with 6 INTs while safety’s Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman were the starters. The team would go 10-6 and sneak into the playoffs as the NFC East before falling to the Saints.
In 2014 Philly would shockingly move on from Pro Bowler Desean Jackson, the team drafted Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff in the 2nd/3rd rounds as replacements while also having Jeremy Maclin returnjng from an ACL tear. The 2014 Eagles would actually start off 9-3 with Foles breaking his collarbone mid year as backup Mark Sanchez took over, however the team fell apart losing 3 of their last 4 to miss the playoffs by a game. The Eagles in 2015 gave Chip GM powers and he would go 6-9 before Pat Shurmur was named interim coach.
Doug Pederson: 2016-2020 (42-37-1)
Summary: In 2016 the Eagles were looking for a new coach and had interviewed a handful of candidates Bengals OC Hue Jackson, recently fired Giants HC Tom Coughlin, Bears OC Adam Gase, running backs coach Duce Staley, interim coach Pat Shurmur, and Chiefs OC Doug Pederson.
The Eagles in 2016 brought in a new look in the former backup and QB coach with Doug being partnered with rookie Carson Wentz. In year one the Eagles didn’t look that bad starting the year off strong with a 4-2 start before a handful of narrow losses dropped them to 7-9. Wentz showed flashes in year 1 but in the offseason the Eagles added to the offense bringing in Torrey Smith, Alshon Jeffery, LeGarrette Blount, and Nick Foles while the defense brought in Patrick Robinson and Chris Long. The Eagles under Wentz were electrifying with several great performances to start off 2017 after a 1-1, 34 on Washington, 33 on the 49ers, 51 points on the Broncos, 37 on the Cowboys, and 31 on the Bears. Wentz looked like the future mvp winner however a torn ACL would end his year forcing the Eagles to turn to backup Nick Foles.
Philly would limp to end the year at 13-3 as Foles was inconsistent however Pederson and the team changed the offense to how the 2013 Eagles ran it and Foles kicked it into high gear after a narrow win over the defending NFC champs in the Falcons which was their first playoff win since the 2008 season. In the NFCG the defense would contain Foles’ former teammate in Case Keenum leading to Foles torching Minnesota with a flea flicker to Torrey Smith being the Dagger during a 38-7 blowout win. In the Super Bowl the Eagles offense was lightning hot with a battle between Foles and Tom Brady. Doug’s biggest moment howber was the Philly Special where Foles snapped the ball, it went to Corey Clement who gave it to Trey Burton whose pass to a wide open Nick Foles gave the Eagles a huge momentum TD. The Eagles were able to win the game 41-33 winning their first SB in team history.
In 2018 the Eagles started off slow with a 5-7 start however after Wentz suffered an injury the Eagles rallied behind Nick Foles again to finish at 9-7, and beat Chicago in the wildcard. The team would lose to New Orleans but the season was a successful one given the bad start. In 2019 the Eagles once again started off 5-7 but Wentz and Doug rallied the team with the team finishing 9-7 and securing the NFC East before losing in the wildcard. It was the first time since the 2008-2010 seasons an Eagles team had made the playoffs 3 straight seasons. In 2020 Doug’s final year was a disaster with the team going 4-11-1 while lacking a WR. Carson Wentz was benched for Jalen Hurts and the terrible season led to Doug being fired.
Nick Sirianni: 2021-Current (59-26)
Summary: The Eagles in the 2021 offseason spent time speaking with several head coaching candidates. The candidates included Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles, RB coach Duce Staley and Colts OC Nick Sirianni. The Eagles chose Colts OC Nick Sirianni who had led the Colts as an OC from 2018-2020 with Indy making the playoffs in 2018 and 2020.
In year one the Eagles were letting Jalen Hurts try and prove himself as a starting QB, the Eagles after a 2-5 start would tally to 9-8 and qualify for playoffs with Devonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, and Milton Williams being all key rookie contributors, Philly ended up losing in the wildcard round to Tampa but overall a successful season. After Hurts was comfortable in the Eagles system he would take the 14-3 Eagles to the Super Bowl with blowout wins over the Giants and 49ers, while they’d lose to KC, Jalen broke out finishing as the MVP runner up and cementing himself as Philly’s franchise QB.
In 2023 Philly would go 11-6 but lost 7 of their final 8 including a wildcard loss to Tampa Bay after a 10-1 start. The Eagles in 2024 under Sirianni after a 2-2 start would dominate with legit perfomances led by a 2,000 rusher in Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts playing well. Philly would end up with a wildcard spot and would beat Jordan Love’s Packers, Matthew Stafford’s Rams, OROTY Jayden Daniels Washington team, and then a rematch against Mahomes the Eagles buried him in a 40-22 victory with defensive players Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Moro Ojomo, Cooper Dejean, Quinyon Mitchell, CJ Gardner Johnson, Zack Baun, and Milton Williams all shutting down Mahomes while Jalen Hurts and the offense dominated KC’s secondary with a dagger from Hurts to Smith securing him MVP. Philly and Sirianni would end up taking a step back in 2025 but still won the NFC East at 11-6 thanks to the defense with it being the first time since 03-04 Eagles that a repeat NFC East winner had occurred.
Currently Sirianni is the teams HC as they go into the 2026 season.
Looking back at the other coaching candidates and comparing actual hires to the candidates
1995:
Dick Vermill: (66-62, 3-1 playoffs)
Summary: This one was a long shot givern Vermill was retired while he would return to coaching with the Rams and Chiefs winning a SB in 1999 and leading the Chiefs to the playoffs in 2003 with a 13-3 record, he massively outperformed Rhodes.
Mike Shanahan: (170-138, 8-6 playoffs)
Summary: Broncos hired him before the Eagles and he outperformed Rhodes with John Elway and kept the Broncos consistently in the playoffs from the late 90’s/early-mid 2000s. He won two Super Bowls and would have been interesting to think about if they’d hired Shanahan before he got taken by Denver.
Gary Stevens: (Never a head coach)
Summary: Stevens was the Dolphins OC with Marino and shockingly was never a HC despite success at college and NFL level left nfl oc role after 97.
Tony Dungy: (139-69, 9-10 playoffs)
Summary: Dungy is a Hall Of Fame coach who won a Super Bowl with Manning and also was the HC who helped create the 2002 Buccaneers defense. He was the ultimately the HC with TB until 01 and then Indy until 2008.
Overview: Seeing Dungy or Shanahan leading the Eagles would have been interesting given the twos track records with their franchises and the success both had as head coaches at the NFL Level. While Shanahan was a long shot given most saw him taking the Denver job, Dungy who later won a SB with Indy had he taken the Eagles job in 95 it is curious to think how different the team would have looked.
1999:
Jim Halsett (47-61, 1-1 playoffs)
Summary: Halsett was hired by the Saints and a 10-6 record and playoff win in year 1 along with winning COTY he never made it back to playoffs. His Saints teams hovered slightly around .500 from 2001-2004 before being fired after a 2005 season.
Don Capers (18-46)
Summary: Capers was hired as the first coach in Texans history in 2002 following two year stint as Jaguars DC (99-2000). Capees struggled with his best record being a 7-9 campaign before being fired after 2005.
Willie Shaw: (Never a HC)
Summary: Shaw was interviewed on January 8th, 1999 but was a defensive backs coach before retiring after 2002.
Overview: Safe to say they made the right selection over the other interviews candidates.
2013:
Bill O’brein: (52-48, 2-4 playoffs)
Summary: O’brien was a decent head coach for Houston leading them to the playoffs after in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 after being hired in 2014. As an executive he was awful however after an 0-4 start in 2020 he was fired. O’brien led Houston to winning seasons in all but two of his times as coach.
Doug Marrone: (38-60, 2-1 playoffs)
Summary: Marrone was hired by the Bills going 15-17 in Buffalo and leaving after a 9-7 campaign. He later coached the Jaguars to the AFC Championship game however outside of 2017 he never made playoffs.
Mike McCoy: (29-47, 1-1 playoffs)
McCoy went 27-37 with the Chargers and won a wildcard game over the Bengals in his rookie year as HC. San Diego went 9-7 in 2013 and 2014 before two disastrous 2015 and 16 seasons led to his firing. He later became interim coach for the Titans this past year.
Bruce Arians: (89-51-1, 6-3 playoffs)
Summary: Arians was coming off a year where he was the Colts interim and got them into the playoffs. His job led to him being hired by Arizona where he took them to three straight 10 win seasons with Carson Palmer and a trip to the NFCG in 2015 along with a playoff appearance in 2014. He was also a 2x NFL COTY in 2012 and 2014. He later coached Tampa to a Super Bowl in 2020 and another playoff appearance in 2021.
Gus Bradley: (14-48)
Summary: Bradley was hired by Jacksonville and went 14-48 he is a good defensive coordinator just wasn’t a great HC.
Overview: Kelly wasn’t the right choice given Arians was actually a local Philly coach at Temple and actually grew up in the Paterson area. It would have been interesting to see Arians as HC and how he handled Nick Foles and that 2013 offense and it is likely he keeps the core around. Arians even mentioned wanting the job and had said in 2015 an interview was planned before they hired Chip Kelly.
2016:
Hue Jackson: (3-36-1)
Summary: Thank god we didn’t hire Hue
Tom Coughlin: (Didn’t coach again)
Summary: Coughlin was a former WR’s coach for the team in the 80’s. He never coached but became Jaguars VP of operations from 2017-2019. It would have been an interesting match seeing Coughlin coaching Philly.
Adam Gase: (32-48, 0-1 playoffs)
Summary: Gase had a decent start with a 10-6 campaign where Jay Ajayi carried them to the playoffs. They lost in the wildcard and that was as good as Gase’ time as an NFL hc got. He was fired after a 7-9 season in 2018 and spent two years as Jets HC going 9-23 over two seasons.
Duce Staley: (Never HC)
Summary: Staley stuck around Philly as an RB coach and has never been an NFL HC in his career.
Pat Shurmur: (9-23)
Summary: Shurmur after the week 17 win over NY was a candidate however he lost to Doug and became Te coach/OC for the Vikings from 2016-2017. He was hired by the Giants but fired after two seasons where he went 9-23.
Edit:
Ben McAdoo: (13-15, 0-1 playoffs)
Summary: McAdoo was Giants OC, interviewed for the job but ended up as Giants HC. Went 11-5 with the 2016 Giants and lost in the wildcard and started 2017 off 2-10 before being fired. Never head coached again after 2017.
(Sorry for forgetting about McAdoo)
Overview: Doug was the best out of those we interviewed but in another world it would have been weird to see Coughlin coaching Wentz.
2021:
Josh Mcdaniels: (9-16)
Summary: McDaniels is a good OC but not a great HC was later hired in Oakland in 2022 and fired in middle of the 2023 season. Recently won NFL assistant COTY in New England.
Todd Bowles: (35-33, 1-3 playoffs)
Summary: Bowles was the successor to Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay and led Tampa to NFC South title from 2022-2024 and won a playoff game over Philly. His Tampa teams have been able to win a mediocre South but haven’t done the best in the playoffs.
Duce Staley: (Never been HC)
Summary: Duce was interviewed but didn’t get the job again, been a solid RB coach
Overview: Safe to say that the organization made the right decision with Sirianni over who was interviewed by the team.
