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The Philadelphia Eagles have already watched several assistant coaches turn team success into bigger opportunities, and two more names on Nick Sirianni’s staff could eventually draw attention from NFL decision-makers.
Pro Football Focus recently looked at 15 assistant coaches who could emerge as head-coaching candidates to watch for 2027. First-year Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt did not make the list, but both are still worth monitoring if Philadelphia remains one of the NFL’s most consistent operations entering the 2026 season.
Mannion is the more obvious name because offensive play-callers often rise quickly when they are tied to productive quarterback play. He takes over an Eagles offense led by Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and a reworked wide receiver room that includes Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks and Elijah Moore. If Mannion helps Hurts thrive in a post-A.J. Brown offense and Philadelphia remains among the NFC’s most dangerous teams, his profile could rise quickly.
That path is demanding. Mannion is a first-year offensive coordinator, and the league will need to see whether he can build a week-to-week identity, manage game flow, and maximize Hurts’ skill set while blending new personnel into the passing game. If he answers those questions, he could become the type of young offensive mind that teams study when searching for the next head coach.
Hurtt’s candidacy is different, but his résumé is stronger than it may appear nationally. The Eagles hired Hurtt as their senior defensive assistant/defensive line coach in 2024, and he added the title of associate head coach during the 2026 offseason. He also has prior defensive coordinator experience with the Seattle Seahawks and was named the National Team head coach for the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl, giving him another leadership platform in front of evaluators, scouts, and executives.
Hurtt’s first season in Philadelphia only strengthened his case as a coach with broader leadership potential. In 2024, he helped tutor a young group of interior defensive linemen that played a major role in the Eagles winning Super Bowl LIX and finishing with the NFL’s No. 1 total defense at 278.4 yards per game. Philadelphia’s defensive tackles also led the league during the regular season in pass-rush grade at 89.2 and pass-rush win rate at 27.7 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.
That matters because Hurtt’s value is not limited to one position group. He has coordinated a defense, worked under Vic Fangio, developed defensive linemen, and earned enough respect inside the organization to receive an expanded title. The Senior Bowl assignment also reinforced how he is viewed outside Philadelphia as a teacher and leader.
Neither Mannion nor Hurtt needs to be treated as an immediate head-coaching favorite. Mannion has to prove he can run an offense at the NFL level, while Hurtt would likely need another defensive coordinator opportunity or a larger leadership role before becoming a serious head-coaching candidate. Still, both have clear paths to future consideration.
For Mannion, success would mean keeping the Eagles’ offense explosive and efficient while helping Hurts adjust to a reshaped receiver room. For Hurtt, success would mean continuing to develop Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and the rest of Philadelphia’s defensive front while maintaining one of the league’s most disruptive units. The Eagles are still built to contend, and winning teams usually have assistants who become attractive elsewhere. Mannion and Hurtt were not on PFF’s list this time, but if Philadelphia’s offense evolves and its defensive front remains dominant, both coaches could become names to watch in future hiring cycles.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles have two of NFL's top head-coaching candidates entering 2026
Continue reading...
Pro Football Focus recently looked at 15 assistant coaches who could emerge as head-coaching candidates to watch for 2027. First-year Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt did not make the list, but both are still worth monitoring if Philadelphia remains one of the NFL’s most consistent operations entering the 2026 season.
Mannion is the more obvious name because offensive play-callers often rise quickly when they are tied to productive quarterback play. He takes over an Eagles offense led by Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and a reworked wide receiver room that includes Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks and Elijah Moore. If Mannion helps Hurts thrive in a post-A.J. Brown offense and Philadelphia remains among the NFC’s most dangerous teams, his profile could rise quickly.
That path is demanding. Mannion is a first-year offensive coordinator, and the league will need to see whether he can build a week-to-week identity, manage game flow, and maximize Hurts’ skill set while blending new personnel into the passing game. If he answers those questions, he could become the type of young offensive mind that teams study when searching for the next head coach.
Hurtt’s candidacy is different, but his résumé is stronger than it may appear nationally. The Eagles hired Hurtt as their senior defensive assistant/defensive line coach in 2024, and he added the title of associate head coach during the 2026 offseason. He also has prior defensive coordinator experience with the Seattle Seahawks and was named the National Team head coach for the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl, giving him another leadership platform in front of evaluators, scouts, and executives.
Hurtt’s first season in Philadelphia only strengthened his case as a coach with broader leadership potential. In 2024, he helped tutor a young group of interior defensive linemen that played a major role in the Eagles winning Super Bowl LIX and finishing with the NFL’s No. 1 total defense at 278.4 yards per game. Philadelphia’s defensive tackles also led the league during the regular season in pass-rush grade at 89.2 and pass-rush win rate at 27.7 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.
That matters because Hurtt’s value is not limited to one position group. He has coordinated a defense, worked under Vic Fangio, developed defensive linemen, and earned enough respect inside the organization to receive an expanded title. The Senior Bowl assignment also reinforced how he is viewed outside Philadelphia as a teacher and leader.
Neither Mannion nor Hurtt needs to be treated as an immediate head-coaching favorite. Mannion has to prove he can run an offense at the NFL level, while Hurtt would likely need another defensive coordinator opportunity or a larger leadership role before becoming a serious head-coaching candidate. Still, both have clear paths to future consideration.
For Mannion, success would mean keeping the Eagles’ offense explosive and efficient while helping Hurts adjust to a reshaped receiver room. For Hurtt, success would mean continuing to develop Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and the rest of Philadelphia’s defensive front while maintaining one of the league’s most disruptive units. The Eagles are still built to contend, and winning teams usually have assistants who become attractive elsewhere. Mannion and Hurtt were not on PFF’s list this time, but if Philadelphia’s offense evolves and its defensive front remains dominant, both coaches could become names to watch in future hiring cycles.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles have two of NFL's top head-coaching candidates entering 2026
Continue reading...
