PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The day before the Eagles played their final game of the season, there was plenty of news off the field.
The Eagles will be looking for a new defensive coordinator in 2021. Jim Schwartz will be stepping down after the regular season finale against Washington. Schwartz is expected to take a year off and decide whether he wants to retire or return to coaching in 2022.
Schwartz has worked in the NFL since 1993, mostly as an assistant, and for a large part of that time as defensive coordinator. He did spend four years as head coach of the Detroit Lions, but he's been the defensive coordinator for the Eagles since Doug Pederson came in as head coach, in 2016.
He was at the helm of the defense when the Eagles won the Super Bowl during the 2017 season. While the Eagles game up 33 points to Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowl LII, they held opponents to a combined 17 points in the two playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl that season.
Pederson spoke on Friday about his strong relationship with Schwartz.
"Our relationship has evolved tremendously," he said. "I think we've been more on the same page over the years, me just getting to know him each year and understanding him as a coach and a coordinator."
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The Eagles have struggled this year and while Schwartz has been dealing with his share of criticism, the unit has also been decimated by injuries and will be missing a host of regulars for the season finale.
"His defenses consistently or historically have been top defenses in the National Football League, of course when guys are healthy and all of that," said Pederson.
Whoever takes Schwartz's place will apparently be working with Doug Pederson. Sources indicate Pederson will return next season despite a year in which the Eagles will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The move comes as no surprise. Pederson was expected to be retained and despite the Eagles struggles this season, the team has made the playoffs the previous three seasons which included the 2017 Super Bowl run.
The Eagles will finish out the regular season on Sunday night against Washington. Pederson is expected to meet with management later next week to discuss the team's off-season plan.