Report: Eagles interviewing two candidates for offensive coordinator job

The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly agreed to terms with their new defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon. Now eyes turn to the team’s offensive coordinator vacancy on Nick Sirianni’s staff.

Reports via Mike Klis and Ian Rapoport indicate the Eagles are interviewing at least two OC candidates: Curtis Modkins and Shane Steichen. Let’s take a closer look at each guy.

CURTIS MODKINS

Modkins, 50, is currently the Denver Broncos’ running backs coach. Here’s a snapshot of his extensive coaching experience:

1995-1997 — TCU graduate assistant, secondary coach, tight ends coach

1998-2001 — New Mexico cornerbacks coach

2002-2007 — Georgia Tech defensive backs coach, running backs coach

2008 — Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach

2009 — Arizona Cardinals running backs coach

2010-2012 — Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

2013-2015 — Detroit Lions running backs coach

2016 — San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator

2017 — Chicago Bears running backs coach

2018-2010 — Denver Broncos running backs coach

As you can see, Modkins has some previous OC experience ... including serving on Chip Kelly’s staff (!) in 2016. Modkins was not the primary play-caller in San Francisco or Buffalo (under Chan Gailey), though. He presumably wouldn’t be in Philly either with Sirianni expected to handle those duties.

Here’s how offenses have ranked in DVOA when Modkins has served as OC:

2010 Buffalo Bills — 26th
2011 Buffalo Bills — 16th
2012 Buffalo Bills — 21st
2016 San Francisco 49ers — 24th

Not great. But, again, Modkins wasn’t the one always calling plays and his quarterbacks were Ryan Fitzpatrick, Colin Kaepernick (last year in the NFL), and Blaine Gabbert.

More recently, Modkins has drawn praise for helping Phillip Lindsay’s development in Denver. Lindsay is the first undrafted rookie free agent to rush for back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years in the NFL.

SHANE STEICHEN

Steichen, 35, has experience working with Siranni. The two overlapped on the Chargers from 2014 through 2017. Here’s a snapshot of Steichen’s entire coaching experience:

2010 — Lousiville offensive assistant

2011-2012 — San Diego Chargers defensive assistant

2013 — Cleveland Browns offensive quality control coach

2014-2015 — San Diego Chargers offensive quality control coach

2016-2019 — San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers quarterbacks coach

2019 — Los Angeles Chargers interim offensive coordinator

2020 — Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator

Steichen, who called plays for the Bolts, has drawn praise for Justin Herbert’s success. The No. 6 overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft threw for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for a 98.3 passer rating as a 22-year-old rookie. Pretty good.

On the downside, Steichen has been criticized for leaning too heavily on the run on early downs. There was also a really bizarre moment last year when Steichen called a run play for 3rd-and-1 when the Chargers had no timeouts and just 22 seconds remaining at Atlanta’s eight-yard line in the second quarter. The Chargers oddly had a similar gaffe against the Buffalo Bills as well. Head coach Anthony Lynn, who was fired by LA, had a part in the Chargers’ poor time management ... but Steichen was ultimately the play-caller.

With Sirianni expected to call plays in Philly, that would alleviate some of the concerns about Steichen.