Getty Nick Sirianni is entering his third season as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Philadelphia Eagles brought Sean Desai in for a second interview on February 27 as they look to fill the defensive coordinator position vacated by Jonathan Gannon. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Desai is a finalist for the job and underwent an in-person meeting with team brass at the NovaCare Complex.
The 39-year-old assistant has been rising up the professional ranks and held the role of Associate Head Coach-Defense last season for the Seattle Seahawks. Desai was a trusted advisor to head coach Pete Carroll and he played a significant role in defensive gameplan and scheme. The Seahawks were ranked No. 26 in total defense — 6,149 total yards, 361.7 per game — although the team seemed to get the most out of limited personnel during an expected playoff run.
#Seahawks associate head coach and defensive assistant Sean Desai is in the building in Philly today, doing a second interview for the #Eagles vacant DC job, per me and @MikeGarafolo. Desai, a Vic Fangio disciple, is a finalist for the post previously held by Jonathan Gannon.
Prior to arriving in Seattle, Desai was a bright young assistant in the Chicago Bears’ organization. He rose up the coaching ladder there going from a defensive quality control coach all the way up to defensive coordinator. The Bears’ defense was dominant under his one-year watch and ranked No. 2 in passing defense and No. 4 in sacks. Robert Quinn — an Eagles pass rusher heading for free agency — found the fountain of youth with Desai calling the plays and recorded 18.5 sacks in their lone season together.
“Everyone understands the guy is a special coach. Very, very smart,” Seattle defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt told the Seahawks website. “He’s somebody who’s just very dedicated to his craft. I know the guy is a heck of a person and a hell of a football coach, and he’s somebody I trust. So he checks all the boxes.”
Desai has a multi-layered background with degrees from Boston University, Columbia University, and Temple University. He earned a doctorate in educational administration from Temple in 2008 before serving as an adjunct professor for two years. He also served successful stints at the University of Miami (assistant director of football operations) and Boston College (running backs coach, special teams coordinator).
Sean Desai in one year as DC with the Bears in 2021:
Pass defense: 2nd
Sacks: 4th
Total yards per game: 5th
The Bears’ 2021 defense had far less talent than the Eagles defense will in 2023. He would be a solid hire.
Darius Slay Lobbies for Secondary Coach Dennard Wilson
Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay continues to pound the drum loudly for in-house candidate Dennard Wilson. The Eagles’ beloved defensive backs coach is on the shortlist to take over for Jonathan Gannon, but the team is doing their due diligence on a bevy of outside candidates before making a final decision.
Slay, who has lobbied for Wilson on several occasions, took to Twitter and wrote: “Man with all these new coaches getting jobs.. I kno my guy Dennard Wilson should be a DC in the NFL!!”
Man with all these new coaches getting jobs.. I kno my guy Dennard Wilson should be a DC in the NFL!!
He wasn’t the only Eagles defensive player to back Wilson publicly. Starting safeties Marcus Epps and C.J. Gardner-Johnson quickly piggy-backed off Slay’s tweet in full support of a promotion for their position coach.
Jesse Minter, Chris Shula Lead Outside Candidates
The list of finalists for the defensive coordinator job is a pretty short one if reports are true. The other guys in the mix include Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Los Angeles Rams defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Chris Shula. That’s it.
Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard is out of the running after the two sides agreed to mutually part ways. Ditto for Vance Joseph who accepted the defensive coordinator job with the Denver Broncos.
Glenn Schumann — the co-defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia — interviewed with the Eagles but decided to return to the Bulldogs. Current Eagles defensive line coach Tracy Rocker is considered a dark horse candidate. And former Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner playfully made his plea for the position.
Glenn Schumann, after interviewing for the Philadelphia Eagles’ DC job, is returning to @GeorgiaFootball, sources tell ESPN. That’s big news for the Dawgs. Schumann was co-DC and called plays last year for two-time defending champs. Georgia had already lost OC Todd Monken to NFL.