The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t hired a defensive coordinator yet, because their top candidates are busy at the moment. In fact, the Eagles have been linked to two Super Bowl coaches, in the San Francisco 49ers’ Ed Donatell and the Baltimore Ravens’ Ted Monachino. However, if Philadelphia wants to hire someone before the Super Bowl ends, it may be setting up backup plans.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Jan. 28, the Eagles interviewed current Cleveland Browns linebacker coach Billy Davis on Jan. 27. What’s more, Davis is no longer listed on the Browns’ website as part of their coaching staff, according to NBC Sports, which suggests he is taking some kind of new job.
The Browns and Eagles have been linked together all offseason, as they competed for Chip Kelly’s services at one point. Cleveland also fired head coach Pat Shurmur and left him available to become Philadelphia’s new alleged offensive coordinator. Now the Eagles could poach both of their top coordinators from the Browns to top it all off.
Since Davis is from the Browns, and not from the 49ers or Ravens, he may be a less appealing candidate than Donatell or Monachino. However, Davis is available right now, as he can be actually hired before the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.
In addition, Donatell and Monachino will likely have more than one potential suitor when the Super Bowl is over. Would Philadelphia risk trying and failing to get Donatell or Monachino in a week, or get things over with right now by hiring Davis or someone else?
Technically, Davis has connections with the 49ers, as he was their defensive coordinator from 2005 to 2006. Yet that was back when San Francisco was a bottom feeder, and didn’t have the kind of intimidating defense it now has under Jim Harbaugh.
Davis also spent two subpar seasons leading the Arizona Cardinals defense from 2009 to 2010, before taking a smaller job in Cleveland. Although the Browns haven’t been that good in the last two years, it hasn’t seemed to scare the Eagles off, as they have Shurmur all but locked up and are at least thinking about reuniting him with Davis.
If the Eagles’ new staff has to resemble another NFL team, there are better ones than the Browns. Yet if they can’t partly resemble the 49ers or Ravens, will they have to settle for less?
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