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By Cole Sullivan
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The Philadelphia Eagles fell in the first round of the playoffs over the weekend, losing 23-19 to the San Francisco 49ers and effectively ending their bid for a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
On Tuesday, just days after that loss, the Eagles announced the firing of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo following a season of offensive struggles. Patullo’s departure marks the fifth time in five years the team will have to replace its offensive coordinator.
“I have decided to make a change at offensive coordinator. I met with Kevin today to discuss this difficult decision, as he is a great coach who has my utmost respect. He has been integral to this team’s success over the last five years, not only on the field but behind the scenes as a valued leader for our players and organization,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said in a statement. “I have no doubt he will continue to have a successful coaching career. Ultimately, when we fall short of our goals, that responsibility lies on my shoulders.”
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Reacting to the news of Patullo’s firing, former Eagles star Jason Kelce spoke about the decision during the latest episode of the "New Heights" podcast with his brother, Travis.
“Offensively is what everybody has been up in arms about, and I get it, I really do. The expectations should be much higher than what they put out this season,” Kelce said on Wednesday’s episode of New Heights. “I know I made some comments on Monday Night Football, I do love Kevin Patullo. I'm not trying to absolve Kevin Patullo of blame—obviously they let go of Kevin as the offensive coordinator, and of course the offense wasn't up to the task this year. It regressed, and the main reason it regressed, I've been saying this from the beginning, is the run game.
“It would probably behoove the Eagles to bring in somebody with a fresh perspective on where it’s at currently… Now we can bring in some fresh ideas, find a way to maximize things. I don’t think it needs to be anything drastic. I think they probably want someone who’s been proven offensively as a successful coach and can look at things with a new lens.”
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The Eagles ranked 24th in offensive yards per game and averaged just over 22 points per contest, often having to grind out points and rely on their defense in many key situations.
Injuries to the offensive line, which Kelce noted, only compounded the team’s struggles. Philadelphia’s OL has long been considered the anchor of the team, but this season it fell short, affecting both the run game and the passing game—issues that have lingered for several seasons.
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