Duce Staley spent seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles as a player, and a decade on the team's coaching staff after his playing career concluded. Staley survived three different head coaches - and if he had wanted, probably could have stayed on with new head coach Nick Sirianni.
Instead, Staley reportedly asked out of his contract with the Eagles to pursue another opportunity. The Eagles granted him that request, and he's since been hired by Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions as the team's assistant head coach and running backs coach, the same role he had with the Eagles for the last three seasons.
Before the Eagles introduced Sirianni as their new head coach Friday, owner Jeffrey Lurie took time to thank Staley for his contributions to the organization.
Related
"...In particular, just because he's kind of like a son to me, I just want to talk about Duce because Duce is someone very special to me...he's been a a terrific player, coach and leader for us," Lurie said. "He'll always be a Philadelphia Eagle. He and I talked well into the night the other night, and I love the man. I just believe, and I think he believes, that it's best for his goal of being a head coach in the league to work for another organization for a while and set himself up, the way many of the candidates have. It will help him, and I just want the the best for him. I think he'll be an excellent leader for wherever he is in the future, and I just want to share that love for Duce because he's very special."
Publicly, LeGarrette Blount, Rodney MeLeod, Brandon Graham, Darren Sproles and Malcolm Jenkins were among the current or former Eagles that vouched for Staley's readiness to be a head coach in the NFL. Privately, SportsRadio 94 WIP's Howard Eskin reported that some players had texted Lurie to endorse Staley to be Pederson's successor.
Instead, the Eagles went in another direction, leaving Staley, 45, in a position where he felt his best option was to leave the organization.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM Sports
Twitter | Facebook I Instagram