Jaguars Hire John DeFilippo as Offensive Coordinator

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By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

Mere days after interviewing with the Jaguars and Cardinals for the offensive coordinator position with each team, the franchise down in Jacksonville has decided to make it official.

On Wednesday, the team announced they had hired John DeFilippo as their next offensive coordinator.

Welcome to #DUUUVAL John DeFilippo!https://t.co/YnvwQeg8ep

— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) January 16, 2019

This could be an attractive opportunity for Flip because the Jaguars have their head coach and defensive coordinator on “a short leash” next season. Flip could very well end up as the interim head coach and possibly the next head coach for the team.

The reason it could be an unattractive position is that the franchise lacks a starting quarterback. That said, Flip will likely have input into what QB(s) they bring in. Jacksonville has the seventh pick in the draft, so could easily draft one of the two signal callers expected to go in the first round. They could also seek a veteran.

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles explained that his decision this offseason would come down to working with a team and coaches that he liked and wanted to be around. Days later, he commented on how much he loved Flip and thought he had a bright future as a head coach in the league. The move makes a Foles to Jacksonville transaction (be it a trade or a free agent signing) more likely.

If the Eagles pick up Foles’ 2019 option and Foles does not buy his way into free agency, the team would likely be looking to move the veteran. The Jaguars have a decision to make on quite a few players. They need to decide whether Jalen Ramsey or AJ Bouye will be the corner they commit to long term. They have a decision to make on whether Leonard Fournette is an answer at running back with so many talented backs in the draft. In addition to those players, the Jags have the seventh pick in each of the first three rounds to offer as well as picks for the 2020 draft and beyond all of which could potentially be used in a trade for Foles. The Eagles would receive a third-round compensatory pick if Foles left in free agency, so any offer the Eagles would consider would need to beat that mark.

DeFilippo served as the QB coach for the Eagles during their Super Bowl run. He was one of two coaches to leave the staff. With Frank Reich not expected to leave, Flip left for the offensive coordinator job in Minnesota before Josh McDaniels decided he had no need to uphold commitments and the Eagles lost Frank Reich to the head coaching job in Indianapolis.