The Philadelphia Eagles are officially changing course on offense again, and one prominent NFL reporter thinks the fix starts with an outside hire.
On Jan. 13, the Eagles announced they’re moving on from offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after the team’s wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Shortly after that news, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini posted that if she were the Eagles, she’d be calling either Mike McDaniel or Klay Kubiak with the 49ers, and specifically said the best thing Philly can do is “hire from the outside.”
Eagles Make OC Change After Patullo Decision
The Eagles’ announcement, attributed to head coach Nick Sirianni, confirmed the team made “a change at offensive coordinator,” ending Patullo’s stint in the role. NFL Network’s reporting also framed it as Philly making the move following Sunday’s postseason defeat to San Francisco.
That’s the “today” hook for Russini’s post: the Eagles have an opening, and her suggested targets are big-swing, outside-the-building options, including a coach they just saw up close in a playoff environment.
Key details (quick plug-in block):
- Eagles moved on from OC Kevin Patullo on Jan. 13, 2026.
- Russini suggested Philly call Mike McDaniel or 49ers OC Klay Kubiak and “hire from the outside.”
- Kubiak is the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, with Kyle Shanahan retaining play-calling duties.
Why Klay Kubiak Is Getting Eagles Buzz
Kubiak, 37, has climbed quickly in San Francisco. The 49ers list him as their offensive coordinator, and the team notes he’s worked multiple roles on staff — including assistant quarterbacks coach and offensive passing game specialist — before moving into the OC title.
Reuters reported when the 49ers officially named him offensive coordinator that Shanahan would keep play-calling duties, but the move still elevated Kubiak’s profile leaguewide.
There’s also the family background: Kubiak is the son of longtime NFL coach Gary Kubiak, and the 49ers have highlighted his path through football and coaching on their own team channels. His brother, Klint, is the offensive coordinator of the Seahawks, and is a major name to watch in this coaching hire cycle too.
For the Eagles, the basic pitch is simple: if you’re trying to stabilize an offense and avoid another in-house shuffle, you explore an outside tree, and Shanahan’s staff is always going to draw interest.
What It Means for the Eagles’ Timeline
Even if Philly wants to move fast, the NFL hiring calendar can slow the process depending on where candidates are employed. Current rules and reporting around the coaching cycle have noted that teams can be limited to virtual interviews at certain points in the postseason, with in-person access opening later based on playoff timing.
That matters here because Kubiak is currently employed by a team still playing, meaning Philly’s ability to get him in a room (and how quickly) could be dictated by league rules and the 49ers’ schedule.
Russini’s post also included McDaniel as an option, and McDaniel is available after the Dolphins announced they relieved him of duties on Jan. 8. That’s the type of candidate who can be interviewed immediately without the same team-advance complications.
What to Watch Next
If the Eagles truly “hire from the outside,” the next few days will likely be about permission requests and interview scheduling, and whether Philly looks at a mix of (1) unemployed head-coach candidates and (2) sitting coordinators from respected systems.
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