When the Philadelphia Eagles decided to make changes to their offensive coaching staff after a disappointing 2025 season, most people didn’t expect there to be sweeping changes to almost the entire staff.

But the decision to hire Sean Mannion as the team’s next Offensive Coordinator had a larger domino effect than anyone expected. The former NFL Backup Quarterback is bringing an offensive scheme very different than what the Eagles have been running over the last ten years, and that means changes for a position group that was once the strength of the Philadelphia organization.

When Doug Pederson was hired to be the Eagles Head Coach in 2016, the decision to retain Jeff Stoutland as Offensive Line Coach would become one of the most important decisions in Franchise History. For a ten year period, Philadelphia would be in the conversation for one of the best Offensive Lines in the NFL each year, and the man behind that high standard of success was Stoutland.

The only offensive line coach that future Hall of Famer Lane Johnson ever worked with in Philadelphia is Jeff Stoutland. Jason Kelce credits Stoutland for the evolution of his play at the Center position. Stoutland developed Jordan Mailata from a Rugby Player into a starting NFL Left Tackle.

But Everything Changed After the 2025 NFL Season

A year in which the Eagles dealt with injuries to All-Pro Right Tackle Lane Johnson and Pro Bowl Left Guard Landon Dickerson, there was a regression for Philadelphia’s typically elite Offensive Line.

In years past, the Eagles would just plug-in-play with backup lineman, and there would be little-to-no drop off with players such as Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Isaac Seumalo, and Nate Herbig all playing above expectations. But in 2025, backup Offensive Lineman such as Brett Toth, and Matt Pryor struggled to fill the void of injuries while starters like Jordan Mailata and Cam Jurgens struggled.

Even though the Eagles offered Jeff Stoutland to stay on as Offensive Line Coach and work with new Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion, the prospect of being asked to coach in a very different system along with a sour taste left from the 2025 NFL season led to Stoutland making the decision to leave Philadelphia.

New Eagles Offensive Line Coach Brings NFL Pedigree

For the first time since 2012, Philadelphia will have an offensive line coach not named Jeff Stoutland, but he comes with something on his resume that Stoutland never had in his background.

Before working with Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell as his Offensive Line Coach for four years, Chris Kuper started 79 games in the NFL with the Denver Broncos. After eight seasons as a Starting Guard, Kuper worked as an Assistant offensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins (2017-18) and Denver Broncos (2019-21).

Kuper’s coaching background includes time working with both current Eagles Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and new Eagles Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion.  The 43-year-old Offensive Line Coach is one of the more well-regarded coaches in the NFL by both players, coaches, and executives.

One former NFL Front Office Executive, Mike Tannenbaum, spoke about Chris Kuper on a recent episode of ESPN’s Get Up television show:

“Jeff Stoutland was great, and Chris Kuper is going to be really good (in Philadelphia). I worked with him in Miami, (NFL fans) don’t really know him, but he is going to be rock solid…Chris Kuper will be very good (and) having Lane Johnson there to help with that transition (from Stoutland to Kuper) will be really important.”

Tannenbaum was the Miami Dolphins Executive Vice President of football operations from 2015-2018, and three of those seasons, Kuper was on the coaching staff. As a former player, Kuper is bringing a different style of coaching and communication to the Eagles.

Also, the return of future Pro Football Hall of Famer Lane Johnson is important for the Eagles as one of the veteran leaders in the Eagles locker room. The soon-to-be 36 year old will be playing for his eighth different Offensive Coordinator as he enters his 14th year with the Eagles, and will be an important part of the transition to the new coaching staff.

New Jersey High School Graduates Who Played Games For Philadelphia Eagles

According to Pro Football Reference, of the 1,430 men who have played regular-season games in a Philadelphia Eagles uniform, only 50 have graduated from New Jersey High Schools. Here are some of the biggest names from New Jersey who played games for the Eagles

(NOTE: Quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Joe Callahan did not make the list because they only appeared in Preseason games with the Eagles)

Gallery Credit: Josh Hennig/Townsquare Media