Philadelphia Eagles: 4 Available Head Coaches That Could Replace Andy Reid

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There is no question that Andy Reid has done a great deal for the Philadelphia Eagles franchise. He's turned a poorly-run, losing organization into a perennial contender. He's given the City of Brotherly Love reason to believe that every year could be their year. 

But sometimes even that is not enough. The Philadelphia Eagles look lost. They've blown fourth-quarter leads in each of the past two games, they're playing schemes that do not suit their players, and their franchise QB is being exposed far too often. 

In short: Andy Reid is being out-coached in every sense of the word. Mike Smith and Tom Coughlin (with all due respect) are not elite strategists or legendary motivators. Neither (arguably) is considered a top 5 or top 10 coach in the NFL. Yet both Coughlin and Smith managed to out-motivate, out-think and out-maneuver Andy Reid.

For Philadelphia fans, this isn't the first time their team has been beaten due to poor coaching. But one thing is becoming clear: Andy Reid might not have what it takes to win a Super Bowl. 

Sometimes a change is needed. Here are four out-of-work coaches that could come in and lead the Eagles to the promised land. 

Option No. 4: Brian Billick

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There is no question Brian Billick is a brilliant football mind and a talented coach. During his time as the offensive coordinator for the Vikings, he was a pioneer, and orchestrated some of the most deadly offensive attacks in the history of the NFL.

When Billick was offered the head coach job with the Baltimore Ravens, all he did was win a Super Bowl in his second year, with Trent Dilfer as the QB. From there, things went downhill. Part of that slide was cap-related, part of it was personnel-related and part of that was Billick simply failing to find an innovative "fix" for the Ravens' offense. 

In Philadelphia, Billick wouldn't have to look far to find offensive weapons comparable to what he had in Minnesota. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are both game-breaking receivers in the mold of Cris Carter and Randy Moss. LeSean McCoy is simply the most dangerous all-around back in the NFL. Brent Celek is just as good as Robert Smith. And then there's Steve Smith, Jason Avant, Ronnie Brown and Mike Vick. 

Putting a mind like Billick's behind offensive firepower like that can only result in good things. Defensively, Billick was the head coach for the Ravens. He knows a thing or two about stopping opponents. 

Option No. 3: Bill Parcells

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Yes, I know. Bill Parcells is retired. But with Parcells, "retirement" is more or less a fluid concept. 

To date, Parcells has retired four times for the NFL. Three of those retirements ended when the Tuna was lured back to the sidelines after a mountain of money was thrown his way by a frustrated owner. Jeffrey Lurie, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, has already demonstrated his willingness to spend mind-blowing amounts of money in order to bring the Lombardi Trophy to the City of Brotherly Love. After dropping nearly $230 million this offseason, what's another $10 or $20 million to bring Parcells to town?

In terms of football IQ and team development, Parcells is as good as it gets. Plain and simple, he just knows the game. He evaluates talent as well as anyone in the league, he knows how to motivate players and he lives to win. 

If the Eagles want someone who will use their players properly, who can motivate the team and who will never be out-coached, they should give Parcells a call. It may be expensive, but that's the nature of the Tuna. 

Option No. 2: Jon Gruden

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There is no question that Jon Gruden is a phenomenal football coach. He's incredibly intelligent, he's a perfectionist and he has absolutely zero tolerance for failure. Just ask his former players.

Gruden is an offensive guru, a coach who has proven to be capable of scoring points with less-than-elite offensive players. His lone Super Bowl win came on the shoulders of journeyman QB Brad Johnson and with "skill" players Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell, Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman. 

Put Gruden in Philadelphia with the Eagles' offensive weapons, and there will certainly be some fireworks. If nothing else, the Eagles will never again come out as flat as they did in Week 2 and Week 3. 

Option No. 1: Bill Cowher

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As far as coaches go (employed or otherwise), Cowher belongs near the top of the list. 

He's a defensive savant, a legendary motivator, a no-nonsense coach and a phenomenal football mind. Cowher demands the respect of his players, and they give it willingly. He expects all-out effort and a no-quit attitude, and he gets it. 

In his 15 seasons as the head coach of the Steelers, Cowher went 149-90-1, posting losing records in only two of those campaigns. He won the Super Bowl in 2005, and built the team that won it in 2008. 

Plain and simple, if the Eagles want to win a Super Bowl this season, they need to fire Andy Reid and call Bill Cowher. If there is a coach not named Bill Belichek who knows how to turn the Eagles' defense into an elite unit, it's Cowher.