Three pressing issues for Eagles after devastating wild-card loss

Despite being less than 12 months removed from a dominant Super Bowl run and still possessing one of the most talented defenses in the NFL, the Eagles will enter the offseason with serious questions surrounding their woefully underachieving offense. Here are the three most pressing issues the Eagles will need to address to reestablish themselves as legitimate NFC contenders. 

1.  A change at offensive coordinator

After losing Kellen Moore to the New Orleans Saints, head coach Nick Sirianni decided to address the offensive coordinator position internally by promoting passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo. This proved to be an ill-fated decision, as the Eagles regressed from seventh in points per game to 19th despite no real change in skill-position personnel. Patullo’s offense was both bland and conservative, often seeming content to sit on a lead and have the defense win the game. 

As expected, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday morning that the expectation around the league is that the Eagles will move on from Patullo. His replacement will almost certainly come from outside the organization. There are plenty of intriguing options to choose from, including recent head coaches Mike McDaniel, Kliff Kingsbury and Brian Daboll, as well as up-and-coming offensive minds like Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.

Though perennial contenders like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions also have offensive coordinator openings, the opportunity to work with proven elite talent like Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith will make the Eagles one of the most attractive destinations this cycle. 

Whether it be with Moore or Shane Steichen, the Eagles have seen firsthand the difference a good play-caller can make, and they have a prime opportunity to rejuvenate their offense if they make the right decision. 

2. What should Eagles do with A.J. Brown?

Brown has never been shy about voicing his displeasure with the offensive operation, but he turned it up to another level in 2025. Whether it be telling fantasy players to trade him during a live stream or making ominous posts on social media, Brown’s frustrations with the underachieving offense were a constant distraction throughout the regular season. 

Despite a solid second half, Brown’s relationship with the Eagles seemed to hit a breaking point on Sunday. He had a critical drop on a potential game-winning drive and got into a heated argument with Sirianni on the sideline after failing to come down with a pair of deep passes. 

Browns’ antics are far more palatable when the Eagles are rolling to a Super Bowl title, but the early postseason exit could open the door for an offseason trade. Though his overall numbers took a dip, Brown still had five games with at least 100 receiving yards, proving he could still be a No. 1 option when given the opportunity. 

Without having to appease Brown, the Eagles can lean more heavily into their run-first offense while still having the opportunity to stretch the field with Smith, who has topped the 1,000 receiving yard threshold three times in the last four seasons. 

3. Maximizing Jalen Hurts' abilities

Six years into his NFL career, the book on Jalen Hurts is pretty clear. He has substantial limitations as a passer, especially in the intermediate area of the field, but has proved to be an excellent leader and decision-maker. 

The big question surrounding him moving forward is his ability to rush. He set full-season lows with 421 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, and had just five attempts for 14 yards against the 49ers. 

Hurts’ ability to extend plays with his legs and gain tough yards on designed runs has been a staple of Eagles offenses during their Super Bowl runs, and his limitations as a passer become far more prominent when he is stuck in the pocket. For the Eagles to get back to their 2024 levels, the next offensive coordinator will need to figure out how to maximize Hurts’ strengths better than Patullo did this season.