June 12, 2017
One of the worst-kept secrets of the Eagles offseason was the team’s decision to deny quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo an opportunity to interview with the New York Jets for their offensive coordinator position.
DeFilippo, a well-traveled 39-year old, has quite a bit of responsibility for a position coach, tasked with developing Carson Wentz in his first few years as an NFL quarterback. NFL teams are allowed to block assistants from interviewing with other teams for positions other than head coach.
Someone in the Eagles organization clearly values “Flip” (Jeffrey Lurie, perhaps?) blocking the Jets from interviewing him. And a few months later, as DeFilippo and Wentz prepare for their second season with the Eagles, he didn’t sound too heartbroken about the whole thing.
“I’ve been on both sides of that coin, I’ve been told to get out of the building some places I’ve been when staffs have gotten let go,” DeFilippo said on Monday. “And I’ll tell you, when the head coach and general manager tell you how much they value you and the work you’ve done, it’s an honor. And I’ve wanted to coach in the organization for a long long time having been from Philadelphia.
“Here’s my take on the whole thing: My goal this year is to be the best quarterback coach in the National Football League, improve our guys as much as I can, and then usually things have a way of taking care of themselves.”
DeFilippo has been an NFL offensive coordinator before with the Cleveland Browns in 2015. A graduate of Radnor High School, DeFilippo says that the ability to work for the team he grew up watching is a major plus.
“Everyone was like, ‘Well, were you upset?’ DeFilippo said. “I told my wife, ‘I’m the quarterback coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, we have a young quarterback in our building that everybody believes in.’ If you’re upset about that, then there’s something wrong with you.”
Someone in the Eagles organization felt DeFilippo was too good to let go. And well, considering that Jets are going scorched earth and tanking Sam Hinkie style, the Eagles’ decision might have been a blessing in disguise.
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