There hasn’t been a lot of thrills that have come with watching the Philadelphia Eagles on the offensive side of the ball so far this season.
It has actually been quite the opposite. Even with 2 wins and an unbeaten start, it’s been downright excruciating. Star wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith aren’t getting the ball. Running back and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley isn’t breaking off long runs. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts is … well he’s still doing whatever he needs to do in order to win. But it hasn’t been much fun to watch.
The ire of Eagles fans seems to be squarely pointed toward first year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and how he has been brutally predictable with calling plays to start his tenure.
If the Eagles are in a pistol or under-center set, they almost always run,” The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena wrote on September 17. “If they’re in the shotgun, they sparingly run. The percentages are glaring when compared to other NFL teams. And opponents are aware. Already, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley have felt the effects of a slow-to-start system that has been too predictable within first-time offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s first two games.
Eagles Coordinators Routinely Become Head Coaches
The turnover for Eagles coordinators has been crazy to watch in terms of getting NFL head coaching jobs.
After the 2022 season — one where the Eagles lost in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs — offensive coordinator Shane Steichen left to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
After the 2024 season — one where the Eagles defeated the Chiefs in the Super Bowl — offensive coordinator Kellen Moore left to become the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
Enter Patullo, who has worked under head coach Nick Sirianni since Sirianni was offensive coordinator for the Colts from 2018 to 2020.
“I can’t tell you that I make a decision without saying to Kevin first, ‘What do you think?’ That’s in everything,” Sirianni told Eagles.com on February 19 after Patullo was hired. “That’s in-game, out of game, with scheduling, that’s with offensive stuff, that’s with game-management stuff, I lean on him a lot … Can’t be great without the greatness of others and that is definitely a fact with Kevin Patullo and I trust him with everything.”
‘Crazy’ Number Of Coordinators For Hurts
With the hiring Kevin Patullo in 2025, Hurts will be playing for his fifth offensive coordinator in 6 seasons. Patullo was promoted after spending the last 4 seasons as pass game coordinator and associate head coach.
ESPN’s Mina Kimes pointed out Hurts has had a “crazy” number off offensive coordinators in his career.
“So, Jalen Hurts gets another coach,” Mines said. “Kellen Moore is out. And they went internal with Kevin Patullo … and there’s pluses and minuses on his resume. He’s worked with Hurts a long time. He’s been their pass game coordinator. He knows Hurts … he knows their wide receivers. He knows what they’re good at. He knows how to use them. But he’s also (head coach) Nick Sirianni’s dude. And, you know, I think there was some benefit from going outside the building.”
Eagles Rookie OC Called ‘Brutally Predictable’ Playcaller