Losing Jonathan Gannon is the Eagles’ bigger coordinator loss

“Shane Steichen’s a good coach, but Gannon’s a star. It’s like they had two head coaches.”

Jonathan Gannon was more than a defensive coordinator. He was like Nick Sirianni's co-head coach, ruling the defense with autonomy.Read moreALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer

Published Feb. 14, 2023, 4:37 p.m. ET

PHOENIX — Jeffrey Lurie looked sad. Howie Roseman looked mad.

Lurie’s Eagles had just blown a 10-point halftime lead and, despite Roseman’s best roster ever, they’d lost Super Bowl LVII. Worse, they’d lost to Andy Reid, the coach they’d fired 10 years before only to see him now win a second title with the Kansas City Chiefs. And tougher times were coming.

The Eagles went to the Super Bowl, but both Lurie and Roseman knew they’d be losing both coordinators to head coaching jobs. Most Eagles fans will be disappointed that Shane Steichen went to Indianapolis. Most will delight that Jonathan Gannon stayed in Arizona to coach the Cardinals.

This is exactly the opposite of how they should feel.

Steichen was the product of his environment, a coalition of offensive minds whose synergy returned excellent results.

But losing Gannon isn’t just bad news for the Eagles. It is catastrophic. Lurie and Roseman know it.

“Shane’s a good coach, but Gannon’s a star,” an NFL source familiar with the Eagles told me Tuesday after reports of Gannon’s departure to Arizona. “He’s smart, and his defense was really good this year. It was like [the Eagles] had two head coaches.”

Gannon was, essentially, the co-head coach. He operated with virtual autonomy. His players adored him. He was, by far, the brightest jewel on Sirianni’s staff, the most sought-after coach in the building since the day he landed; a celebrated DB coach in Indy, he turned down two other coordinator jobs to follow Sirianni to Philadelphia.

Gannon is irreplaceable. In just his second season as a defensive coordinator, he integrated eight new frontline players and emerged with the No. 2 defense in football, which not only led the league with 70 sacks but also logged the third-highest total in NFL history. It allowed 30 total points in the three games that preceded the Super Bowl, all against playoff teams.

On Sunday night, Gannon, a Philly pariah, allowed 31 points to Andy Reid, the best offensive coach in the NFL, and Patrick Mahomes, the current MVP and perhaps the best quarterback in history. Respected Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo allowed 35 points to Nick Freakin’ Sirianni. Who had a better night? Do the math.

Could Gannon have blitzed Mahomes more? Played a little more man? Pressed a tad tighter? Sure. But his defensive line, playing on a slippery field, couldn’t get past an underrated offensive live, mainly because Reid max-protected Mahomes. And Mahomes has been brilliant against the blitz the last two seasons.

But if you hate Jonathan Gannon because he relies on zone coverage, doesn’t press receivers, and seldom blitzes, then you just don’t like winning.

Note: The Chiefs scored one touchdown on a blitz, and two more against man coverage. Be careful what you wish for.

The future

With Jalen Hurts throwing to DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, and Dallas Goedert behind an elite offensive line, the Eagles’ offensive roster is well-equipped to return to Super Bowls for the next three seasons.

Steichen will be missed. He worked wonders after Game 7 of 2021, when he took over play calling from Sirianni. He went run-heavy, relied on Hurts’ speed and elusiveness to flummox defenses as Hurts’ arm grew stronger and more accurate, his mind grew sharper, and his weapons grew more dangerous.

But Steichen was supported by Sirianni, a former offensive coordinator, as well as Brian Johnson, Hurts’ coaching godfather; Jeff Stoutland, the run-game coordinator; and Kevin Patullo, the passing-game coordinator.

This was not the case when Doug Pederson lost both offensive coordinator Frank Reich and QB coach John DeFilippo five years ago after Super Bowl LII.

The offense will, at least, have continuity, and it will be fine.

The defense is a different story.

Almost all of the significant personnel losses will come on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback James Bradberry, safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps, linebackers T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White, defensive end Brandon Graham, and defensive tackles Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Ndomukong Suh, and Linval Joseph all can be free agents. Seven of those players were starters, and all played significant roles in the Super Bowl run.

» READ MORE: Eagles' 2024 Super Bowl odds

No matter who replaces Gannon — defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson is the lead candidate, according to a team source — the system and its implementation won’t be identical. Neither will the teaching of defensive techniques and philosophies, which was Gannon’s strength.

That’s an immense issue, considering the roles young players like Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, and Milton Williams will play in 2023.

The young Eagles defenders were just getting the hang of Gannon’s scheme that muzzled the 49ers, Giants, Saints, Bears, and Titans down the stretch.

Now, they’ll have to reset as they try to repeat.