Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Search: 3 Top Candidates To Replace Chip Kelly

After two-plus seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to move on from head coach Chip Kelly, the team announced last Tuesday. Owner Jeffrey Lurie said there were “bold risks” taken in hiring Kelly and “determined it was time to make a change” as he pulled the plug on his coach after a Week 16 loss to Washington.

There has already been speculation about who could replace Kelly in Philadelphia and it appears the team has already begun the search process. On Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson was named a potential candidate for the position by ESPN.

Below we take a look at three other potential candidates for the head coaching vacancy in Philadelphia:

Duce Staley, Eagles Running Backs Coach

Running backs coach Duce Staley has already been interviewed by the team, according to reports. Staley’s interview fills Philadelphia’s requirement to comply with the Rooney Rule, which requires any team with a coaching vacancy to interview at least one minority candidate. After playing six seasons for the Eagles, Staley was hired as a coach on Andy Reid’s staff before being retained by Kelly and promoted to running backs coach.

Adam Gase, Bears Offensive Coordinator

The Eagles are one of the teams interested in Gase to be their next head coach along with the Browns and Dolphins, reportedly. Cleveland doesn’t currently have a vacancy but is thought to be parting ways with Mike Pettine. Gase’s work with Jay Cutler and Peyton Manning previously has earned him the reputation to bring the best out of passers under his tutelage, no matter how different the quarterback. Gase was a finalist for the vacancy in San Francisco last offseason before the job went to Jim Tomsula.

Sean McDermott, Panthers Defensive Coordinator

McDermott has emerged this season as one of the hottest coaching candidates as his Carolina defense helped lead the Panthers to a 14-0 start and a first round bye in the playoffs. McDermott, in his fifth season with Carolina, is heading a unit that ranks No. 4 in yards allowed and No. 9 in points allowed. There is a plethora of talent on the defensive side of the ball that could benefit from having an upper-tier defensive coach running things after the offensive-minded Kelly. McDermott has a past in Philadelphia, coaching the secondary and linebackers under Andy Reid before becoming defensive coordinator in 2011. He was fired after one season.

It is unknown whether the Eagles will give interim head coach Pat Shurmur serious consideration for the job on a permanent basis or whether they will interview anyone else on Kelly’s staff. Kelly was 26-21 in 47 games as head coach including a playoff appearance following a 10-6 season in 2013.