Eagles coordinators Steichen, Gannon land NFL head coaching jobs after Super Bowl loss

The Philadelphia Eagles' makeover is already underway. Only two days after a crushing Super Bowl loss to Kansas City, some Eagles are ready to move on — especially the coaching staff.

Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon became the man in charge of the Arizona Cardinals on the same day the team — which has 19 free agents — gathered to clean out its lockers.

Jalen Hurts isn't going anywhere. But the franchise quarterback who threw for 304 yards and a touchdown and ran for 70 yards and three scores against the Chiefs can start talking about a new contract. Just not yet.

"I kind of dread this," wide receiver A.J. Brown told Philadelphia reporters inside the locker room. "It's tough, it's tough right now."

The first order of business for general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni will be replacing Steichen and Gannon. The obvious move would be to elevate quarterback coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator with Sirianni perhaps taking back the play-calling duties that he handed to Steichen midway through the 2021 season. On defence, Dennard Wilson has been touted as a potential replacement-in-waiting.

The main question the Eagles had coming into the season was answered by Hurts' emergence as an MVP finalist and bona fide star quarterback. His contract expires at the end of the 2023 season and the organization has signaled it's ready to talk about a long-term deal.

Hurts, however, wasn't ready to talk about it to reporters Tuesday.

"The thing that I'm most focused on is winning and ultimately winning a championship. There will be a day where that conversation can be had, but today isn't that day," he said.

The eventual contract extension could have a trickle-down effect for other free agents in Philadelphia. At the top of the list is cornerback James Bradberry, who signed a one-year contract worth $7.5 million US after being released by the Giants last offseason. Bradberry's expected value on the open market may be too much for an Eagles team already carrying Darius Slay's $26 million cap hit for 2023.

"I don't know what they got planning on over there and I didn't want to ask about it because I just wanted my mind to be on football," Bradberry told reporters Tuesday when asked if he talked to Roseman about a new deal. "But we'll talk about it soon."

Two franchise defensive stalwarts from Philadelphia's Super Bowl team in 2017 are also on the list in Fletcher Cox, who had a $14 million price tag this season on a one-year deal, and Brandon Graham, who recorded his first double-digit sacks season in 2022.

The offensive side of the ball has its share of questions, as well, starting with Jason Kelce, the 35-year-old All-Pro centre who has considered retirement the last two years. Kelce said he would give an answer before March about a possible return.

His colleague, right tackle Lane Johnson, was scheduled to have surgery this week to repair an abdominal injury that he played through during the postseason. Running back Miles Sanders is scheduled to become a free agent after rushing for over 1,200 yards this year — but the Eagles do not have a history of overpaying for running backs since Jeffrey Lurie bought the franchise in 1994.

Philadelphia has other avenues to fill holes on the offensive and defensive lines, as well as the secondary. The Eagles have the No. 10 pick in the first round of April's draft, acquired in a deal swap last year with New Orleans, and the 30th spot.

Raiders reportedly release QB Carr

Derek Carr is free.

The Las Vegas Raiders informed the quarterback that he has been released from his contract, making him a free agent immediately, ESPN reported Tuesday. He can begin negotiating with teams immediately.

The Raiders were forced to release him Tuesday before $40.4 million in his contract became guaranteed on Wednesday.

By cutting him, the Raiders free up $29.3 million in cap space and it takes them off the books for the $40.4 million.

Carr, 31, adeptly forced the Raiders' hand, first by refusing to extend Wednesday's deadline and then refusing to waive his no-trade clause.

Carr is expected to draw the most interest from the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers. He gets a jump on other free agent quarterbacks — namely Jimmy Garoppolo — who can't sign with any team until the start of the new league year March 15.

The New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also in the market for a QB.

In his nine seasons with the Raiders, Carr has played for six head coaches, gone 63-79 as a starter, earned a trip to four Pro Bowls and taken the team to the playoffs twice without a win.

A second-round pick in the 2014 draft out of Fresno State, Carr signed a three-year, $121.5 million extension last spring that included the no-trade clause and an out for the team.

The only quarterback under contract for the Raiders currently is Chase Garbers.