The Philadelphia Eagles are out of college coaches to consider, so they may have to hire a professional coordinator instead. The Eagles’ other option would be a former NFL head coach, but Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher haven’t expressed interest in coming back yet. However, Philadelphia may have already talked to another former Super Bowl winning coach.
According to Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia on Jan. 13, former Baltimore Ravens coach turned FOX color commentator Brian Billick interviewed with the Eagles back on Jan. 7. The meeting even went on for eight hours, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora.
Ironically, these reports came out right as Billick was calling the Seattle Seahawks-Atlanta Falcons game on Jan. 13, which also featured supposed Eagles’ front runner and current Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Given that Bradley’s defense allowed the Falcons to get a 27-7 lead and then blew a 28-27 win with under half-a-minute left, the likes of Billick may now have a stronger case to get the job over him.
Billick, like Gruden and Cowher, has won a Super Bowl although it came many years ago. And like Gruden, Billick endured several years of mediocrity afterwards, before he was fired and moved to the broadcast booth.
Billick didn’t make the strongest impression in the booth on Jan. 13 either. He wondered if the Seahawks should go for a field goal and an outside kick when they were down by 27-21 and marching towards the end zone with under a minute left. Then after the Seahawks lost, he said the game legitimized them as a No. 1 seed, although it really legitimized the top seeded, victorious Falcons.
If the Eagles were going to hire a former Super Bowl champion, most of the city would likely prefer Gruden or Cowher. And with Bradley now available and Bruce Arians and Jay Gruden set to interview with Philadelphia this week, Billick may be a long shot anyway.
Still, this is the first time the Eagles have talked to anyone with Billick’s resume during their search. Although he won his championship 12 years ago with the Ravens, Baltimore is currently making a Super Bowl run in Ray Lewis’s last ride, so it would be ironic if Billick returns to the sidelines now.
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