Eagles Wake-Up Call: Will Today Be the Day?

The Eagles’ search for a head coach is not over just yet.

Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was in town Tuesday to meet with Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman and Don Smolenski. Bradley is the only candidate who’s interviewed a second time, but there’s a caveat. His first interview was brief because Bradley was in the middle of preparing for Seattle’s divisional round matchup against the Falcons.

And so yesterday, everyone got to know each other a little better. Can’t you just picture it? Howie pouring drinks. Jeffrey asking Gus for one more “Do your job!” reenactment. Don wondering if Bradley will show up to the Halloween party dressed as Walter White.

I’m sure a good time was had by all.

But the question now is this: Is Lurie ready to make an offer? That we don’t know – yet.

An answer is likely coming soon (we mean it this time). Bradley is scheduled to travel to Jacksonville today to meet with the Jaguars about their head-coaching position. If he gives Shahid Khan a call and tells him he can’t make it, we know Bradley is probably hanging around Philadelphia to work on hammering out a deal with the Eagles.

But if Bradley gets on the plane, we know Lurie did not consider him a slam dunk. Could he still become the Eagles’ coach? Sure. The odds, however, would go down considerably.

If not Bradley, then who? Lurie said the Eagles’ search would be exhaustive, and it has been. Many names have been crossed off the list for a variety of reasons. Left standing (along with Bradley) are Ken Whisenhunt, Brian Billick, Lovie Smith and Jay Gruden. All have interviewed once with the Eagles. None have found work elsewhere just yet.

And finally, there’s the possibility of a surprise candidate. Lurie surprising us all with a name that comes out of nowhere. Guys like Brian Kelly and Billick were not considered potential candidates when this whole process began. Is there another name we’re all missing?

We’ll find out soon enough, although there’s no guarantee about when the new coach will be announced. At some point today, though, we should find out whether Bradley’s going to be the guy.

WHAT YOU MISSED

Tim’s got details on the Bradley meeting.

From draft buzz to what Andy Reid learned from his time in Philly, here’s what they’re saying about the Eagles.

On our final Birds 24/7 show of the season, we talked about Roseman’s role in the organization and the coaching search. Click here for the podcast links.

Mike McCoy is headed to the Chargers.

Bradley has built up some good will over the years, writes McManus.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

If you don’t find this video amusing, you have no soul.

COMING UP

More of the same. We’ll be all over the coaching search until the Eagles find their man.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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