The Eagles got D.K.

No, not D.K. Metcalf, the freak wide receiver the Philadelphia Eagles passed on to draft J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.

The Eagles instead got D.K. McDonald. This much according to Football Scoop, with a hat tip to @igglesnut.

While his exact role on Philadelphia’s coaching staff wasn’t specified, one would assume he’s replacing Jay Valai as the Eagles’ assistant defensive backs coach. Valai left Philly to join Nick Saban’s coaching staff in Alabama just one day after the Eagles officially announced his hiring.

McDonald has an obvious connection to new Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. The two were on the same coaching staff at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) from 2006 through 2008. McDonald coached defensive backs while Sirianni coached wide receivers so their units obviously went up against each other.

McDonald played cornerback at Edinboro (Division II) before getting into coaching. Here’s an overview of his experience:

2003-2005 — Edinboro secondary coach

2006-2010 — IUP secondary coach

2011 — Williams & Mary defensive backs coach

2012-2015 — Toledo cornerbacks coach

2016-2018 — Iowa State cornerbacks coach

2019-2020 — Iowa State safeties coach

McDonald will assist new Eagles defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson in coaching the Eagles’ secondary. Seems like he’ll specifically be working with the cornerbacks. Hopefully, he can do a good job and help them stop guys like Metcalf.