MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 29: Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich answers questions during Super Bowl LII Opening Night on January 29, 2018. at the Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles have lost three straight games, and their fans are becoming increasingly outspoken on social media about the improvements they’d like to see, particularly on offense.
They specifically want Frank Reich to return as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator.
On defense, the Eagles have already made a shift, transferring play-calling responsibility from defensive coordinator Sean Desai to Matt Patricia.
Given the Eagles’ inability to generate points during their current slump, there is now a call for the same kind of change on offense. And they believe Frank Reich is the answer because he was the offensive coordinator when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII with quarterback Nick Foles.
Is Frank Reich preferable to Brian Johnson?
Brian Johnson is the Eagles’ offensive coordinator for the first time. He was the quarterbacks coach under the previous offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen, before Steichen moved to become the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach.
The Eagles started the season with a 10-1 record and an average of 28.1 points per game. However, the Eagles’ scoring average has dropped to 16.3 points per game during their current losing streak.
Frank Reich, who was sacked as the Carolina Panthers’ head coach after 11 games this season, was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator for two seasons, 2016 and 2017.
With rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, the Eagles finished 7-9 and ranked 20th in total offense in Frank Reich’s first season as offensive coordinator. Despite the fact that the team was winning and Wentz was having an MVP-caliber season the next season, the offense ranked only 29th overall.
Wentz tore his ACL in Week 13 and was sidelined for the rest of the season. Nonetheless, Foles took over as the Eagles finished 13-3 and won their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Despite the fact that the club did not perform statistically well under Frank Reich, the fact that he led the offense during a Super Bowl-winning season is what mattered most to Eagles supporters.
Frank Reich departed Philadelphia to become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, where he led the team to two playoff appearances in four seasons before being dismissed after nine games in 2022. Frank Reich worked with Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, and Matt Ryan while there.
Carolina recruited Frank Reich as head coach to work with and develop the Panthers’ No. 1 overall draft pick, Bryce Young, but fired Reich after he guided the team to a 1-11 record.
Would Frank Reich’s presence make a difference?
What would Frank Reich do with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts? Hurts was having an MVP-caliber season before to the Eagles’ recent difficulties, which makes little sense given their total offensive talent, from their offensive line to their playmakers. Hurts questioned his team’s “commitment” in his postgame news conference following Monday night’s loss to Seattle.
Frank Reich, a former NFL quarterback, has a solid track record with quarterbacks from his prior coaching jobs and could potentially maximize Hurts’ potential if he is brought back.
Brian Johnson and the Eagles, on the other hand, have three games remaining, two against the New York Giants and one against the Arizona Cardinals. Until that happens, Eagles supporters will fantasize about a return to the glory days of Frank Reich’s Super Bowl-winning offense.
