REPORT: PHILADELPHIA: Eagles OFFICIALLY REMOVE Bill Belichick FROM THE HEAD COACH RACE — President Jeffrey Lurie has locked in a group of “THE BIG FOUR SECRET CANDIDATES” who are ready to replace Nick Sirianni and completely rewrite the future of the Philadelphia Eagles – Who are these people that have the entire NFL holding their breath? 🔥🦅
In a stunning pivot that has sent shockwaves through the NFL landscape, Philadelphia Eagles president Jeffrey Lurie has decisively shut the door on Bill Belichick’s potential return to the sidelines in Philly.
The legendary coach, fresh off a controversial stint at North Carolina where he navigated a 7-5 season marred by off-field distractions, had been whispered as a dark horse candidate amid growing frustrations with current head coach Nick Sirianni’s post-Super Bowl LIX blueprint.
But sources close to the organization confirm that Lurie, after a series of clandestine meetings last week, has officially removed Belichick from contention. “Bill’s era of dominance is unmatched, but this is about injecting fresh energy into a roster that’s primed for another decade of contention,” one Eagles insider revealed.
“Jeffrey respects the Hoodie, but he’s betting on visionaries who can evolve with Jalen Hurts and this explosive core, not rewind to 2007.”
The decision comes at a precarious moment for the Eagles, who sit at 8-3 entering Week 13 of the 2025 season, clinging to the NFC East lead despite a sputtering offense that ranks 18th in points per game.
Sirianni, the architect of back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and the franchise’s triumphant LIX victory over the Chiefs in February, is under siege like never before.
His sideline antics—yelling at fans during a narrow win over the Browns in October and a postgame tirade after a heartbreaking 24-21 loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving—have amplified calls for change. “Nick’s passion is his superpower, but it’s wearing thin,” said ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell.
“He’s the seventh coach since the merger with four straight 8-2 or better starts, joining immortals like Belichick and Shula. Yet, this offense feels predictable, and the defense, under Vic Fangio, is leaking like a sieve in the red zone.”
Lurie’s move signals a full-throttle coaching search, one that’s been brewing since the offseason when offensive coordinator Kellen Moore bolted for New Orleans.
Rather than a splashy hire like Belichick, who reportedly demanded too much personnel control in preliminary talks, the Eagles’ owner has zeroed in on a quartet of “Big Four” secret candidates.
These aren’t household names—yet—but they’re the innovators Lurie believes can “rewrite the future” of a team that’s won 56 regular-season games since 2021, the most in the league.
Kept under wraps to avoid tampering accusations, this group has the entire NFL brass on edge, with rival GMs anonymously fretting that Philly could poach the next Andy Reid. “Jeffrey’s playing chess while others play checkers,” a league source quipped.
“These four are the unicorns: proven winners who won’t disrupt the locker room chemistry but can unlock Hurts’ dual-threat wizardry.”
Leading the pack is Ben Johnson, the 38-year-old offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, whose meteoric rise has turned Jared Goff into an MVP dark horse and Jahmyr Gibbs into a receiving back extraordinaire.
Johnson’s scheme—blending pre-snap motion with gap-scheme runs—propelled Detroit to a 12-5 record last year and a NFC Championship berth, where they fell just short to Sirianni’s Eagles. “Ben’s the offensive savant Philly needs,” said a Lions assistant who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“He’s got that pedigree from Michigan, where he schemed up backs like Blake Corum for 1,000 yards, and he’s Jalen’s perfect match: mobile QB experience from his days with the 49ers.
Imagine Hurts in a system that averages 28 points without the ‘tush push’ crutch.” Johnson, who turned down head coaching offers from the Bears and Commanders last cycle, has reportedly been Lurie’s top target since the summer.
His interview last Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex reportedly lasted four hours, with Lurie grilling him on adapting to Philly’s smash-mouth identity while injecting creativity.
If hired, Johnson could bring Lions QB coach Mark Brunell as a package deal, ensuring a seamless transition for Hurts, who’s thrown 12 picks this season amid protection woes.
A close second is Todd Monken, the 58-year-old Ravens play-caller whose wizardry with Lamar Jackson has Baltimore leading the league in explosive plays.
Monken’s Air Coryell roots, honed under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, make him a natural fit for an Eagles offense that’s bogged down in third-and-long predictability under Kevin Patullo. Last season, Monken’s unit ranked first in EPA per rush, a stat that would supercharge Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell.
“Todd’s the stabilizer,” the source said. “He’s won everywhere—South Florida, Cleveland, Tampa—and he doesn’t ego-trip.
Lurie’s drawn to guys who elevate QBs without overhauling the roster.” Monken’s availability hinges on Baltimore’s playoff fate; if the Ravens flame out early, he’s primed for Philly, where he could install a balanced attack that counters Fangio’s aging front seven.
Whispers suggest Lurie views him as the “anti-Sirianni”: calm, cerebral, and unflappable under Lincoln Financial Field’s boo birds.
Then there’s Mike Vrabel, the 50-year-old Tennessee titan whose firing after a 6-11 dud in 2023 belies his pedigree as a three-time Super Bowl champ with the Pats and a culture-builder extraordinaire.
Vrabel’s blend of defensive grit—rooted in his Ohio State days—and offensive acumen (he backed Kyle Shanahan’s schemes in Houston) positions him as the wildcard. “Mike’s the enforcer Philly craves,” the insider noted.
“He’d rally this defense, bench underperformers like James Bradberry if needed, and let Hurts cook without micromanaging.” Vrabel’s media rounds have been coy, but a Eagles jet touched down in Nashville last weekend, fueling speculation.
His interpersonal touch—legendary from barbecues with Titans players—could heal the fractures from Sirianni’s sideline meltdowns, while his Belichick ties (without the baggage) make him a bridge to the old guard.
Rounding out the Big Four is Liam Coen, the 39-year-old Buccaneers OC who’s turned Baker Mayfield into a top-10 QB and Rachaad White into a 1,200-scrimmage-yard machine. Coen’s West Coast roots, sharpened under Sean McVay in L.A., emphasize quick rhythms and bootlegs—ideal for Hurts’ elusiveness.
“Liam’s the dark horse, the guy who flew under the radar at Kentucky,” the source explained.
“He’s got that innovator spark: variable tempo, misdirection that confounds Vic Fangio-types.” Coen’s Tampa tenure has yielded a top-five offense despite injuries, and Lurie’s intrigued by his ability to develop young talent like DeVonta Smith.
A formal interview is slated for Monday, with Coen potentially bundling Bucs passing game coordinator Brad Idzik.
As the NFL holds its collective breath, Lurie’s gamble underscores a franchise at the crossroads. Sirianni’s 48-20 record is historic—the third-best winning percentage in the Super Bowl era among active coaches—but recent skid (three losses in five) has exposed cracks.
The offense, once a juggernaut under Shane Steichen, now stalls on play-action, and the defense ranks 22nd in turnover margin.
Fans chant for change during lulls at home games, and even Jalen Hurts’ post-Cowboys presser hinted at frustration: “We win ugly, but wins are wins—until they’re not.” Lurie, ever the visionary who hired Reid in 1999, isn’t panicking yet.
But with the playoffs looming and a potential rematch with Detroit on the horizon, the clock is ticking.
This Big Four pursuit isn’t just a search; it’s a manifesto. Philly’s roster—Hurts, A.J. Brown, Barkley, a revamped O-line—boasts $250 million in cap space next offseason. The right hire could cement another dynasty, eclipsing the 2017 miracle run.
Belichick’s ouster clears the path for youth and innovation, but risks alienating veterans who thrived under Sirianni’s fire.
As one AFC scout put it, “Lurie’s betting the house on these four to make the Eagles the NFL’s sleeping giant awaken fully.” Week 13’s clash with the Bears could be Sirianni’s referendum; lose, and the rewrite begins.
For now, the league watches, breathless, as Philadelphia plots its next chapter—one that could redefine the NFC for years to come.
