The Eagles nearly lost defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to retirement before convincing him to return for the 2026 season, a move that kept the team from needing to pursue former coordinators Jim Schwartz or Jonathan Gannon according to PhillyVoice Eagles reporter Jimmy Kempski.
Fangio was hired as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in 2024 and helped transform the unit into one of the best defenses in the league, allowing 278.4 yards per game and 17.8 points per game, helping the team win Super Bowl 59. This season, the Eagles’ defense finished 13th, allowing 314.2 yards per game but fifth in points allowed per game (19.1).
Kempski added that if Fangio had stuck with his decision to retire, the team was mulling the idea of bringing back Jim Schwartz or Jonathan Gannon to lead the defense. Gannon was with the Eagles for two seasons (2021 and 2022), helping the Eagles become the second-best defense in the league in 2022 (302.1 yards per game) and reach Super Bowl 57 before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Gannon left after the Super Bowl to become the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach. The move led to tampering allegations made by the Eagles against the Cardinals. The Eagles alleged that Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort had a phone conversation with Gannon in the days following the NFC Championship Game, a period during which contact is not permitted under the League’s Anti-Tampering Policy.
The allegations were resolved with the Eagles sending their third-round pick (No. 94) and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Cardinals for a 2023 third-round pick, which eventually led to the selection of safety Sydney Brown. Gannon spent three seasons as the Cardinals’ head coach, compiling a 15-36 record. He was fired Jan. 5 after the Cardinals finished with a 3-14 record this season.
Schwartz, who was the Eagles’ defensive coordinator when the team won its first Super Bowl during the 2017-18 season, spent the last three seasons as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator. Schwartz has led the Browns’ defense to become one of the better units in recent years, utilizing players such as defensive end Myles Garrett to put pressure on opposing offenses.
Despite the Browns finishing this season with a 5-12 record, their defense kept them in many games. The Browns finished fourth in the league in total defense, allowing 283.6 yards per game. They also ranked third in pass defense (167.2 yards per game) and sacks (53).
After the Browns fired Kevin Stefanski, Schwartz became a finalist to be the team’s new head coach but the Browns hired Todd Monken. Schwartz was not happy with the move and was “visibly upset” after the decision was made, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He reportedly told his colleagues he would not return to the Browns. Schwartz still has one season remaining on his contract with the Browns.