Philadelphia Eagles coaching rumors: Ken Whisenhunt & Jay Gruden interviewed today

Another day, another surprise name in the Eagles coaching search. The Eagles confirmed that former Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt interviewed for their vacant head coaching job this morning. In addition, the team confirmed that they also interviewed Jay Gruden today, but that one was already known about.

Whisenhunt spent 3 seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning a Super Bowl there in 2006. He was hired as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals the following season. In his first 3 seasons in the desert, Whiz racked up 27 wins and 2 playoff appearances. Eagles fans will of course remember the 2008 playoffs, when the Cardinals defeated the Eagles in the NFC title game.

Kurt Warner would retire a year later and that really was the beginning of the end for Whisenhunt. He would win just 18 games over the next 3 seasons and was fired after this most recent one. It was really the inability to find a quarterback, despite trying (Kolb trade!), that doomed Whisenhunt. The team has been plagued with truly awful QB play over his last 3 years and really they had no shot.

Whisenhunt was not the GM in Arizona so it wasn't his final say, but he certainly played a part in the decisions and he did constantly shuffle the position around... Generally didn't do much to help.

You do have to credit Whisenhunt for building a good staff in Arizona. He brought Russ Grimm with him from Pittsburgh and he's earned a reputation as an excellent coach as has defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Horton is still under contract in Arizona, but could be looking to get out if passed over for the head coaching job.

Whisenhunt is certainly an interesting candidate and a guy that probably deserves another shot at a head coaching job.