Georgia Bulldogs co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Glenn Schumann. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles need a Bulldog at defensive coordinator

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 1/3/24

Sorry, Sean Desai. Move over, Matt Patricia. The Philadelphia Eagles need a new defensive coordinator. Maybe they should go back to Georgia.

More specifically, maybe the team should bring Glenn Schumann, the Bulldogs co-defensive coordinator, back for a second interview. The 33-year-old coach was among several candidates to interview with the Eagles after Jonathan Gannon left to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals last year.

The team ultimately decided to make Desai its next defensive coordinator and added Patricia as a senior defensive assistant. It proved to be the wrong decision as Patricia now calls the plays for a team giving up the fourth-most points in the league.

Over the last 7 games, the Eagles have given up 15 passing touchdowns. No team has given up more in the NFL over that span

And they are giving up 150 rushing yards a game, third worst in the NFL over the last 7 weeks.

Can this defense be fixed? pic.twitter.com/y79NKY1AfE
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 2, 2024

With five Georgia players as part of Philly’s defensive unit, adding a coach that helped them win back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 seems like an obvious move. Schumann actually has six national championships to his credit, the first four coming in eight years under Nick Saban at Alabama. So why didn’t the Eagles hire him when they had the chance?

When speaking with reporters during Georgia’s fall camp, Schumann discussed how he keeps in touch with Eagles players like cornerback Kelee Ringo throughout the year. When asked about the interview process with Philadelphia, he said he was honored to be considered but offered no insight as to why he didn’t get the job.

If Schumann truly wants an NFL job, this could be the year. While the Bulldogs fell short of a third straight national championship, his defense nearly pitched a shutout in the Capital One Orange Bowl, beating Florida State 63-3.

If the Eagles want to get the best out of players like Ringo, Jalen Carter and Nakobe Dean, this could be their last chance to get Schumann on board.

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