Sources - Ron Rivera to interview for Eagles' DC job

Sources – Ron Rivera to interview for Eagles’ DC job،

Tim McManus, ESPN editorJanuary 22, 2024, 5:13 p.m.
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PHILADELPHIA — Former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera is interviewing with the Eagles for their defensive coordinator position, sources tell ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The Eagles are looking to revamp the defensive side of the ball after a disappointing 2023 performance in which they allowed the third-most points per game during the regular season (25.2), ranked 30th in the red zone and third on defense, and gave in. 35 passing touchdowns, second most in the league.

The Eagles are parting ways with defensive coordinator Sean Desai and Matt Patricia, who took over as defensive play-caller at the end of the season, according to multiple reports.

Desai, 40, was hired by Philadelphia in February to replace Jonathan Gannon, who became head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Nick Sirianni demoted Desai in favor of Patricia, 49, after blowout losses to the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys in early December dropped the Eagles to 10-3.

The change for Patricia, however, made things worse, as the defense gave up an average of 30 points over its last four games, including 32 points in a wild-card playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .

Rivera, 62, was the Eagles' linebackers coach under Andy Reid from 1999 to 2003 before serving as defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears (2004-06) and Chargers (2008-10) and coach- leader of the Carolina Panthers (2011-19). and commanders (2020-23).

In his final year with the Chargers as defensive coordinator, his unit finished first in yards allowed (271.6 YPG) and 10th in points allowed (20.1).