Report: Eagles discussed potential reunion with former OC this offseason

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni at least considered bringing a familiar face back into the building this offseason.

According to a recent profile from The Athletic, Sirianni and former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich discussed the possibility of a reunion in Philadelphia after changes were made to the coaching staff. Following the dismissal of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, Sirianni explored the idea of bringing Reich on in an advisory role to help stabilize the offensive structure heading into 2026.

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That reunion never came to fruition.

Instead, Reich accepted the offensive coordinator job with the New York Jets, where he’ll have full control of the offense under a defensive-minded head coach. In other words, if Reich was going to get back into the grind of weekly game planning and play-calling, it was going to be on his terms.

But the fact that the Eagles even entertained the idea of bringing him back is notable.

Eagles Looked Inward for Offensive Stability

Reich’s history in Philadelphia speaks for itself. As the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 2017, he played a massive role in the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. That season launched him into the Colts’ head coaching job, where things quickly became complicated after Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement sent Indianapolis into a quarterback carousel that ultimately derailed Reich’s tenure.

Since then, Reich’s coaching journey has included a short-lived stint in Carolina that ended just 11 games into his first season. He’s still being paid by the Panthers through 2026, which makes his decision to jump into an OC role with the Jets less about necessity and more about opportunity.

And that’s where the Eagles come into this.

Sirianni didn’t interview Reich for the open offensive coordinator position, but there was legitimate discussion about bringing him in as an advisor. That kind of move would’ve added another experienced offensive voice to a coaching staff that’s felt the ripple effects of multiple coordinator departures over the past few years.

It also would’ve reunited Sirianni with the coach who helped shape his early NFL trajectory in Indianapolis.

Why the Eagles Didn’t Land Reich

Ultimately, the Jets offered Reich something the Eagles couldn’t: autonomy.

In New York, Reich will run the offense and likely have a hand in determining who lines up under center next season. For a coach looking to reestablish himself as a high-level play-caller after back-to-back firings, that kind of influence matters.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, continues to operate with Super Bowl-or-bust expectations. The pressure in the Eagles’ building is tied to sustaining success, not rebuilding from years of dysfunction. That’s a very different environment than what Reich is stepping into with the Jets, where simply clearing a low organizational bar would represent meaningful progress.

Still, Sirianni’s willingness to reach out to Reich signals that the Eagles are looking for ways to reinforce their offensive infrastructure after a season that saw inconsistency creep in at times.

Even if it didn’t lead to a reunion, it’s clear that Sirianni wasn’t afraid to revisit the past in an effort to keep the Eagles’ future on track.