Eagles' OC Mike Groh, WR Coach Carson Walch Fired After Playoff Loss to Seahawks

The Philadelphia Eagles have parted ways with offensive coordinator Mike Groh and wide receivers coach Carson Walch after going 9-7 this season and falling at home to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Head coach Doug Pederson confirmed the move on Thursday, and the Eagles posted his statement on Twitter: 

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen first reported the Eagles were planning to fire the offensive assistants earlier on Thursday.

Both Groh and Walch were adversely impacted by a rash of injuries that severely limited the Eagles' depth this season, including a head injury that knocked quarterback Carson Wentz out of the 17-9 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

Even with the injuries, the Eagles performed admirably on offense in 2019, as they ranked 14th in yardage with 360.8 per game and 12th in scoring with 24.1 points per game.

The 48-year-old Groh was Philadelphia's offensive coordinator in 2018 and 2019. He replaced Frank Reich, who was hired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts prior to the 2018 campaign. Groh previously served as the Eagles' wide receivers coach in 2017.

Since Pederson is the offensive play-caller, Groh took on a supporting role rather than running the offense like most offensive coordinators.

Prior to his time with the Eagles, Groh was an offensive position coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Virginia, a quarterbacks coach at Louisville and a wide receivers coach at Alabama. He also went on to become a wide receivers coach for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.

When Groh was promoted from wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, Walch took over as wide receivers coach after previously serving as the assistant wide receivers coach.

Walch had his work cut out for him in 2019, as the team's top three wideouts suffered significant injuries. Alshon Jeffery landed on injured reserve after 10 games, and DeSean Jackson was placed on IR after three games. Nelson Agholor also missed five games and did not play down the stretch or in the playoffs.

That left Walch with rookie second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and former University of Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. as his top options at wide receiver.

While Wentz focused mostly on throwing the ball to tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert—and running backs Miles Sanders and Boston Scott—Arcega-Whiteside and Ward played a role as well.

Perhaps Arcega-Whiteside's lack of major progress contributed to Walch's firing since he had just 10 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown, but Walch does deserve some credit for helping develop Ward, who made 28 grabs for 254 yards and one score.

While the offensive coaching staff will look much different next season, there may not be many changes from a personnel standpoint since Wentz, Sanders, Scott, Jeffery, Jackson, Ertz and Goedert are all under contract for 2020.