Philadelphia Eagles Seek Defensive Coordinator: 5 Candidates from Playoff Teams

One week after firing Sean McDermott, the Philadelphia Eagles are still without a new defensive coordinator.

This one week wait almost guarantees the Eagles are looking for a defensive assistant that still remains in the playoffs.

The four remaining teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, all whom have great defensive assistants that have potential to be defensive coordinators in the NFL.

The Eagles would like to have their whole defensive staff before the Senior Bowl, but that is looking very unlikely.

So which coaches might the Eagles look to hire to fill the defensive coordinator void?  Read on.

UPDATE: According to philly.com Jeff McLane, the Eagles have finalized their candidate list, one which includes Winston Moss.

This is a pretty proud moment for me because no one has mentioned Moss as a candidate other than me!

5. Mike Pettine

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - 2009: Mike Pettine of the New York Jets poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by NFL Photos)

Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine worked in Pennsylvania coaching high school teams and eventually becoming a Pittsburgh assistant before coming to the NFL.

Pettine now works with Rex Ryan on the Jets defense, one of the best in all of football.

Pettine doesn't call the shots, though; Ryan calls the defensive plays. Pettine may want to join the Eagles to finally lead a defense on his own.

Pettine really does not have much experience in the 4-3 defense, which is why he is ranked No. 5 on this list.

4. Winston Moss

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GREEN BAY, WI - 2008: Winston Moss of the Green Bay Packers poses for his 2008 NFL headshot at photo day in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Getty Images)

Not many people know the up-and-coming Winston Moss.

Moss is currently the inside linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers and is also the assistant head coach, so he has the trust of Mike McCarthy.

He is young and has experience with both the 4-3 and 3-4 defense. This could be a risk, but it's a risk the Eagles may never regret; Moss has the potential to be a defensive mastermind, leading the Eagles defense for many years under Reid.

On the other hand, Moss has never been a defensive coordinator in his career.

3. Bob Sutton

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - 2009: Bob Sutton of the New York Jets poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by NFL Photos)

Bob Sutton was retained by head coach Rex Ryan as senior defensive assistant/linebackers after three years as defensive coordinator (2006-2008).

Sutton has experience and has been part of the NFL for 11 years now.

Sutton was key in the development of many young players including David Harris and former Jet, Jonathan Vilma, now a superstar for the Saints.

Sutton’s 2008 unit was ranked near the top of the NFL in rushing defense (94.9) and yards per rush allowed (3.7), the Jets best statistical showing since 1993.

2. Bob Babich

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BOURBONNAIS, IL - AUGUST 04: Defensive coordinator Bob Babich of the Chicago Bears talks to the defesive players during a training camp practice on August 4, 2009 at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Imag

Bob Babich enters his seventh year as an assistant coach with Chicago and fifth year of working with the linebackers.

During Babich's six years with the team, the Bears linebacker corps has been arguably the most productive in the NFL

Linebackers like Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are two of the very best and can owe some of their success to Babich.

He began his NFL career as an assistant with the Rams in 2003 and almost immediately turned St. Louis into one of the better defensive teams in the league. That year, the Rams lead the league in forced turnovers.

Babich is known to be an aggressive defensive guy, a perfect assistant; he reminds me of the late Jim Johnson.

1. Mike Trgovac

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GREEN BAY, WI - 2009: Mike Trgovac of the Green Bay Packers poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by NFL Photos)

Mike Trgovac is in his second year coaching defensive linemen with the Packers after six years as the Panthers defensive coordinator under John Fox.

Though he is rumored to be a candidate for the Broncos defensive coordinator vacancy under Fox, Trgovac left the Panthers on bad terms, so a reunion may be unlikely.

Also, Trgovac would probably rather work under an offensive-minded coach like Reid than the defensive-savvy Fox.

Trgovac has very strong ties to Philadelphia. He was Ray Rhodes’ defensive line coach all four years of Rhodes’ tenure with the Eagles, from 1995 through 1998, and he has a relationship with owner Jeff Lurie and team president Joe Banner. 

Mike Trgovac has his most experience coaching the 4-3, so he could be the best candidate possible for the Eagles defensive vacancy.