Three candidates to be the Eagles’ next quarterbacks coach
Once Kellen Moore officially signs on to be Philadelphia’s next offensive coordinator, he’ll need a new quarterbacks coach. Here are three options the Eagles could consider:
Douglas Nussmeier
Given his history with Moore, Nussmeier is the most likely candidate to take over for Alex Tanney in 2024. Nussmeier spent three years (2020-2022) as quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys while Moore served as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Nussmeier spent 2023 as the Chargers quarterbacks coach after Moore joined the team as offensive coordinator. Unfortunately for both, things went so badly in L.A. that head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco were fired during the regular season before Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh was hired to be the team’s next head coach.
As a player, Nussmeier spent five seasons as a journeyman quarterback in the NFL and one season with the BC Lions of the CFL where he started his career as a quarterbacks coach in 2001. Since then he’s been an offensive coordinator and/or quarterbacks coach for six college teams and quarterbacks coach for three NFL teams.
His son Garrett plays quarterback for LSU and the redshirt sophomore is likely to be named the starter with Jayden Daniels moving on to the NFL. Unless Nussmeier heads to Baton Rouge to help his son, Garrett’s dad would fit perfectly in Philadelphia.
Frank Reich
After spending the last six years as an NFL head coach, Reich may feel he’s beyond coaching quarterbacks these days, but after going 1-10 with the Carolina Panthers he may want to get back to his roots.
Reich was Peyton Manning’s quarterbacks coach with the Colts from 2009-2010 and Philip Rivers’ coach in 2013. He also won a Super Bowl as the Eagles offensive coordinator in 2017 and the team still holds him in high regard.
Head coach Nick Sirianni spent three years as Reich’s offensive coordinator with the Colts and considers Reich a friend and mentor. In the wake of recent events, it’s unsure how much say Sirianni will have with position coaches moving forward. The Eagles have already said Moore will have total control of the offense, but adding Reich to the staff would make the head coach more comfortable.
Josh McCown
The Eagles once held McCown in such high regard they offered him a coaching position before his playing days were over. After serving as the team’s backup QB in 2019, he chose to remain with the team’s practice squad before being claimed by the Texans the following year.
As a player, McCown played for nine teams in a 16-year career. His only coaching experience came in Carolina as Bryce Young’s quarterback coach before being let go with Reich and former Eagle Duce Staley.
The Eagles obviously saw something they liked during McCown’s time in Philadelphia. As long as they believe Young was the problem with the Panthers, McCown could be a dark horse to join Sirianni’s staff.
