Sean Mannion details how Jared Goff, Kirk Cousins shaped his approach

[ASFN Admin]

When Sean Mannion discusses coaching philosophy, teaching consistently surfaces as a central theme. Fundamentals matter. Communication matters. Preparation matters. Those ideas have shown up repeatedly since Mannion arrived in Philadelphia as the Eagles' offensive coordinator, but during his latest media availability, he offered another revealing look into how his coaching style developed and the quarterbacks who helped shape it.

The influences extend well beyond playbooks and coaching staffs.

Asked by Martin Frank whether any quarterbacks he played with, behind, or against influenced his eventual transition into coaching, Mannion offered a thoughtful answer that provides Eagles fans another glimpse into how he sees the position and how those lessons could ultimately impact Jalen Hurts moving forward.

“I've been really fortunate to be around a lot of really great influences that have made me who I am today,” Mannion explained.

The first name mentioned was Jared Goff.

Mannion spent time alongside Goff during his years with the Rams, and the Eagles' offensive coordinator pointed directly toward traits that continue to define high-level quarterback play.

“Tremendous accuracy, anticipation, a decisive player,” Mannion said.

That answer feels particularly noteworthy considering what Mannion has repeatedly emphasized about offensive structure since taking over Philadelphia's offense. Timing. Rhythm. Footwork. Operating efficiently inside structure.

Anticipation sits directly in the middle of all of it.

Great quarterbacks don't simply react. They process quickly, trust concepts, and deliver the football before windows fully materialize. Mannion saw that firsthand alongside Goff. The next influence may resonate even more. Kirk Cousins. During Mannion's time in Minnesota, Cousins left a lasting impression not simply because of physical talent, but because of preparation.

“Tremendous accuracy, tremendous anticipation, toughness, an absolute professional in terms of how do you attack a week of preparation,” Mannion said. “Just a really great competitor.”

Film study, understanding situational football, mastering timing, and recognizing defensive tendencies are all crucial elements in quarterback development. Building habits that withstand pressure is also essential. These aspects are central to Mannion's perception of quarterbacks' growth. Additionally, there is another important lesson: resilience. Mannion highlighted Geno Smith and Drew Lock, his former teammates in Seattle, as examples of the challenges that quarterbacks encounter at the professional level. The position requires persistence and the ability to bounce back from difficulties.

“Geno obviously had his ups and downs early in his career,” Mannion explained. “It was really, really cool to see him get another opportunity and to keep working and keep getting better.”

Mannion appears focused on building habits. And many of those habits were shaped by quarterbacks he watched operate long before he ever stepped into his current role leading the Eagles' offense.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Sean Mannion credits NFL QBs for coaching development and rise

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