Jan. 28, 2026, 3:32 p.m. ET
Talk about two ends of the very same spectrum. What a difference a year makes. This time last year, the Philadelphia Eagles’ faithful balanced excitement and nervousness as the discussion turned to their chances of dethroning the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles got the job done. They ended the Chiefs’ reign of terror, and Kellen Moore moved on to lead the New Orleans Saints. Here we sit presently, and conversations have shifted.
This is the third time in five seasons that Philadelphia has been bounced from the postseason during the Wild Card Round. This is the second time in three seasons that they have fired their offensive coordinator. It seems that, if they could find a viable replacement for Kevin Patullo, emotions might settle.
Well, we all know how that’s going. There are questions about whether the Eagles’ opening is desirable, but there appears to be mutual interest between Eagles leadership and Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion.
His name didn’t elicit any adrenaline rush, but upon further review, he might be one of the more talented candidates the Eagles have spoken to.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Recent Packers discourse could reassure the Eagles faithful about the potential of hiring Sean Mannion.
Following the Eagles’ every move could be time-consuming. It’s hard to keep one eye on them and the Green Bay Packers, so most of what most of us know about Sean Mannion stems from two areas: his impact on Jordan Love and his history as a former quarterback.
Love has developed into one of the game’s young signal-callers who could still get better. Mannion set passing records for the Oregon State Beavers and in the Pac-12 that still stand.
Some Eagles fans yawned. He was another candidate whom they knew little about, but perusing what the Cheeseheads are saying might instill confidence. They seem pretty bummed out about Mannion’s potential departure. Might the Eagles have found another diamond in the rough?
Here’s some food for thought: Candidates don’t always withdraw from coaching searches due to a lack of interest. Sometimes, they do it to save face because they realize they won’t get the job. Let that sink in for a moment.
The last time the Eagles hired a Packers assistant for an important role that no one knew about, things worked out pretty well. That was Andy Reid. He was the head coach for 14 seasons. The Eagles have done enough to have already earned our trust as an organization. It’s hard to forget that none of us knew much about Doug Pederson, Nick Sirianni, and Shane Steichen either.
They promised a wide net, and they have cast one. Signs may indicate an unknown but successful hire. If Mannion is the guy, there are seemingly reasons to be positive.