Eagles Rumors: Josh McCown Wants to Continue Playing Career over Coaching Role

The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly want quarterback Josh McCown back next season—just as long as he's on the sidelines.

According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the reigning NFC East champs discussed adding McCown to their coaching staff in his exit interview, with the possibility of making the 40-year-old the Eagles' offensive coordinator.

McLane notes that McCown rebuffed the offer, instead telling the team he wished to continue playing.

The last time Eagles fans saw McCown, he was gutting it out through an NFC Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks with a torn hamstring after starter Carson Wentz suffered a concussion in the first quarter.

Philadelphia would go on to lose 17-9 at home. That's not how McCown wants to go out, apparently. After playing for eight teams over 17 years, the quarterback reportedly isn't calling it quits just yet. Just don't get that confused with not wanting to coach. McCown has been the quarterbacks coach for his two sons' high school team in North Carolina and worked out a deal with Philadelphia last year to return home on Fridays and Mondays to continue his role.

Maybe that's why the Eagles reportedly broached the possibility of McCown joining head coach Doug Pederson's staff. According to McLane, after McCown's exit interview with Pederson and general manager Howie Roseman, the quarterback met with team owner Jeffrey Lurie—which seems like overkill for a backup quarterback the team convinced to come out of retirement during the preseason.

The team has been without an offensive coordinator since letting go of Mike Groh on January 9. The Eagles had flip-flopped on whether they would retain him leading up to the firing.

Neither the team nor McCown's camp responded to inquiries from McLane.

Regardless, the Eagles need more than just an offensive coordinator. They need a healthy full-time starting quarterback. So far, that's been challenging enough to find.