Examining the most significant question for Eagles' first-year OC Kevin Patullo

USA Today

13 hours ago

Examining the most significant question for Eagles' first-year OC Kevin Patullo Keeping Philadelphia's dynamic offense explosive and efficient is the biggest question for Eagles' first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
The Eagles wrapped up OTAs on Thursday and will hold one mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday afternoon before a summer break leading into the mid-July start of training camp. There's a lot of pressure to maintain a Super Bowl-caliber offense, and that falls on first-year coordinator Kevin Patullo.
Nick Sirianni's longtime confidant was promoted to offensive coordinator after Kellen Moore accepted the head coaching position in New Orleans. The Athletic recently examined the biggest question for every new player caller in the NFL, and Patullo is tasked with ensuring "offensive continuity" for the league's top unit.
Boasting one of the most well-rounded and potent offenses and a Lombardi Trophy came at a price: The Eagles lost offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to a head coaching job after only one season. That means quarterback Jalen Hurts in 2025 will play for his sixth play caller in six seasons. By now, the quarterback has grown accustomed to change. But he has good familiarity with this latest OC, as coach Nick Sirianni promoted Patullo (previously his pass game coordinator) to play caller.
Patullo has worked with Hurts for four seasons, so he understands his likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Patullo also fully grasps the capabilities of running back Saquon Barkley and wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. But he's not Moore, so various aspects about the Eagles' approach to attacking defenses could change. Patullo also must gain comfort as a coordinator because he has never called plays in 20-plus years coaching in college and the NFL.
The 2025 season will be his 16th season coaching in the NFL, all on the offensive side of the ball, primarily working with wide receivers and quarterbacks. Patullo understands the Eagles' offensive process and identity after working alongside and watching Shane Steichen (offensive coordinator in 2021 and 2022, who is now the head coach in Indianapolis), Brian Johnson (now the assistant head coach with Washington), and Moore (who helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX).
Who is Kevin Patullo
Patullo played quarterback and wide receiver at South Florida and began coaching as a grad assistant at his alma mater. His first NFL job was in Kansas City in 2007 as an offensive assistant/quality control coach, and then coached with the Bills (offensive quality control/assistant WRs, 2010-2012), Titans (assistant WRs, 2014), Jets (quarterbacks, 2015-2016), and then with the Colts from 2018-2020 as a wide receivers coach and then pass game specialist before coming to Philadelphia with Sirianni.
With the press conference complete, we're looking at takeaways from his first session with the media.
Patullo on his biggest influence
The Eagles' new offensive coordinator references former Cowboys head coach and offensive guru Chan Gailey as one of his early influences. Patullo told the media that Gailey was willing to do anything to try to be successful, even if it meant coming up with something new and unproven.
Patullo has an advantage
Unlike Brian Johnson and Kellen Moore, Patullo has coached both quarterbacks and wide receivers, which could help the Eagles' new play-caller avoid some of the former pitfalls.
"Being able to coach both positions, you can really marry the two. Coaching receivers in Indy, I was able to use my quarterback knowledge from coaching that position and playing it and get the guys to understand why they needed to be somewhere and why we needed to have them there at that time. ... I think you can teach the guys a perspective that they're not used to hearing."
Patullo on his relationship with Nick Sirianni
No longer the Eagles' passing game coordinator, Patullo was asked how the promotion would impact his relationship with head coach Nick Sirianni. Patullo says he and Nick Sirianni challenge each other and test each other. He says Nick pushes the coaches to get better. Patullo came to Philadelphia with Sirianni and said he has been here since day one with Nick, and he has had a big-picture view and been in all the different meeting rooms in the past.
Patullo on how the Eagles offense will be different
Jalen Hurts has had four offensive coordinators during his stint as the Eagles' starting quarterback, and each play-caller looks to put his special stamp on the offense. Patullo was asked how the scheme would look differently after Moore's departure.
'We're going to find what the players do best and expand upon it.'