Recent Vikings Coaching Candidate May Join Eagles
Dustin Baker
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The Minnesota Vikings hired Brian Flores to run the 2023 defense, but before that, the franchise explored a few other names during the interview process.
One man was Sean Desai from the Seattle Seahawks, and he may now end up with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Recent Vikings Coaching Candidate May Join Eagles
Desai withdrew his name from the Vikings defensive coordinator search on February 3rd. Flores was hired three days later.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Monday morning, “Seahawks associate head coach and defensive assistant Sean Desai is in the building in Philly today, doing a second interview for the Eagles vacant DC job, per me and Mike Garafolo. Desai, a Vic Fangio disciple, is a finalist for the post previously held by Jonathan Gannon.”
The Arizona Cardinals hired Gannon after his Eagles lost in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago. In fact, Philadelphia needs two new coordinators for 2023 as offensive bossman Shane Steichen took the Indianapolis Colts top job.
If hired, Desai, 39, would accept the second defensive coordinator gig of his career. He was in charge of the Chicago Bears defense in 2021 before the house of cards fell on then-head-coach Matt Nagy. Desai landed in Seattle as an associate head coach and defensive assistant thereafter.
Here’s his full resume:
- Temple University: DEF & ST Coach (2006–2010)
- University of Miami (FL): Assistant Director of Football Ops (2011)
- Boston College: RB & ST Coordinator (2012)
- Chicago Bears: DEF Quality Control Coach (2013–2018)
- Chicago Bears: Safeties Coach (2019–2020)
- Chicago Bears: DEF Coordinator (2021)
- Seattle Seahawks: Associate HC / DEF Assistant (2022–present)
Desai cannot be held solely accountable for NFL defenses since entering the league, but here’s a glimpse at his team’s performances via defensive DVOA:
- 2013 (CHI) = 25th
- 2014 (CHI) = 29th
- 2015 (CHI) = 31st
- 2016 (CHI) = 22nd
- 2017 (CHI) = 14th
- 2018 (CHI) = 1st
- 2019 (CHI) = 10th
- 2020 (CHI) = 8th
- 2021 (CHI) = 13th
- 2022 (SEA) = 21st
The 2021 campaign in Chicago best reflects his performance, as Desai was the team’s defensive guru. Desai landed in Seattle in the aftermath of Nagy’s departure and was highly respected in Emerald City.
When Seattle’s offseason began in January, Pete Carroll told reporters about his current coaching staff, “we’re staying with our guys; we’re solid,” and specifically about Desai, “we hope we can get him to come back.”
Desai would inherit the NFL’s sixth-best defense in 2022 per DVOA, with perhaps a handful of players departing in free agency.
Jesse Minter (University of Michigan), Chris Shula (Rams), and Dennard Wilson (Eagles) are also vying for the Eagles DC job.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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