The Philadelphia Eagles have a new linebacker coach. The cynic will say, ‘Well, now all the Eagles need are linebackers.’
First things first - the coach.
That job will reportedly go to Bobby King, per ESPN. King is a former inside linebacker coach with the Tennessee Titans and is expected to handle the same role in Philly.
It’s not as big of a name as say, Joe Barry or Mike Caldwell, a pair of candidates the Eagles were interested in, but, then again, it’s a job that comes with a lot of uncertainty.
The Eagles don’t exactly have a full cupboard at that position.
Nakobe Dean is about all that can be counted on at this point. Perhaps Ben VanSumeren, too, after the undrafted rookie saw some defensive snaps late in the year after getting most of his seasoning on special teams.
Dean is coming off a foot injury that limited him to five games in his second season. He said that he was going to be spending his offseason rehabbing in Philadelphia.
“I'm not gonna go nowhere,” he said at the end of the season about staying in the area.
Dean wants to be in the forefront of the Eagles’ minds, and even get a chance to build some early chemistry now with King.
“They (the Eagles) know who I am,” said Dean. “If they don't then I'll help (them remember) this season."
General manager Howie Roseman threw his support behind Dean when he met with the media on Jan. 24.
“I have a lot of belief, and I know coach (Nick Sirianni) does, as well, in Nakobe Dean,” said Roseman. “I believe in the player. I believe in the person.”
Four of the Eagles’ linebackers are free agents – Zach Cunningham, Nichola Morrow, Shaun Bradley, and Shaq Leonard. Of the four, Cunningham could have a shot at returning based on Roseman’s comments.
“Honestly when you watch the tape, [LB] Zach Cunningham had a good year,” said the GM. “He really did. He had a mentality that we like for that position.”
As for King, most of his previous coaching experience is with linebackers. he replaced D.J. Eliot, who was only on Sirianni's staff for one year.
Here is his resume:
2010 - Dallas Cowboys assistant linebackers coach/defensive quality control coach
2011 - Houston Texans defensive assistant
2012-2013 - Houston Texans assistant linebacker coach
2014-2016 - San Diego Chargers assistant linebacker coach
2017 - Houston Texans linebacker coach
2018-2020 - Houston Texans inside linebacker coach
2021 - Houston Texans defensive line coach
2022-2023 - Tennessee Titans inside linebacker coach
King and Sirianni crossed paths in San Diego for three seasons.
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