New Eagles coach won't keep one popular, longtime assistant as he starts building his staff

The staff of new Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is starting to take shape, but it will be noticeable in part because of who likely won't be on it.

The Eagles officially announced the hiring of Sirianni on Sunday, making official something that league sources had confirmed last Thursday. Part of the delay could be to allow Sirianni, 39, some time to assemble his staff.

SIRIANNI'S SUCCESS:5 keys to success for Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, and what it means for Wentz and Hurts

And that is reportedly starting to happen as Sirianni is bringing in at least two fellow coaches from the Indianapolis Colts in Jonathan Gannon, who will reportedly be hired as the defensive coordinator, and Kevin Patullo as the passing game coordinator.

CENTER STAGE:2 Delaware high school stars to face off in NFC Championship game

Gannon was the Colts' defensive backs coach and Patullo was the Colts' passing game specialist. Both were with Sirianni, who was the Colts' offensive coordinator, on head coach Frank Reich’s staff in Indianapolis.

But longtime Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley will not be returning. NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark reported Sunday that Staley will ask to be let out of the final year of his contract so he can seek a job somewhere else.

On Monday, it was reported that Staley will join the Detroit Lions' staff in the same role that he had with the Eagles – running backs coach/assistant head coach.

Staley, who played for the Eagles from 1997-2003, had been the longest-tenured coach on staff. He joined Andy Reid's staff in 2011 as a special teams assistant, and was promoted to running backs coach under Chip Kelly in 2013.

Staley interviewed for the head coaching job in 2016 that ultimately went to Doug Pederson, and stayed on as running backs coach. He also interviewed for the offensive coordinator job in 2016 that went to Reich, and again for the OC job in 2018 that went to Mike Groh.

He interviewed for Pederson's job after Pederson was fired on Jan. 11.

Staley had the support of many players for the head coaching job. 

Another longtime coach will be staying, however, in offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, another assistant who is very popular with his players. There were reports a few weeks ago that Stoutland was heading back to the University of Alabama, where he was working before leaving to become the Eagles' offensive line coach in 2013.

But Alabama filled the opening with former Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone, and Stoutland was retained by Sirianni.

There are still other openings to fill, and decisions to be made on other coaches, such as Press Taylor, who was the Eagles' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. It would seem like Taylor won't be returning with Patullo becoming the passing game coordinator.

One of the reasons Pederson reportedly was fired because he wanted to promote Taylor to offensive coordinator following a 4-11-1 season in which quarterback Carson Wentz had the worst season of his career.

The Eagles are reportedly interviewing Shane Steichen and Curtis Modkins for the offensive coordinator job. Steichen, 35, was the Chargers' offensive coordinator this past season. He has been on the Chargers' staff since 2014, when Sirianni was the quarterbacks coach.

The Denver Post reported that Modkins, the Broncos running backs coach, is also interviewing for the job. Modkins, 50, was also the Bills' offensive coordinator from 2010-12, and the 49ers offensive coordinator in 2016 under Kelly, who had been fired as Eagles coach the previous season.

As for Gannon, he has been an assistant coach for 14 years in the NFL, with seven of those spent coaching defensive backs. This will be his first job as a coordinator.

Patullo was the Colts' receivers coach in 2018 and 2019 before Groh got that job this past season. Patullo then became the passing game specialist. He has 16 years of coaching experience.

Sirianni also needs to fill the role of quarterbacks coach if Taylor is not returning. In addition, tight ends coach Justin Peelle is leaving to become the Falcons' tight ends coach.

It's possible that special teams coordinator Dave Fipp won't return. He is reportedly interviewing for the same job with the Detroit Lions.

On defense, Sirianni has to fill an opening at linebackers coach with Ken Flajole leaving. He also has to decide on defensive line coach Matt Burke and defensive backs coach Marquand Manuel.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.