Eagles Request Interview With Former Detroit Lions OC

A familiar name to Detroit Lions fans is back in the NFL coaching rumor mill.

According to NFL insider Mike Garafolo, the Philadelphia Eagles have requested permission to interview Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter for their open offensive coordinator position. Cooter, who previously worked with Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni during the 2021 season in Philadelphia, is coming off a strong year in Indianapolis, where the Colts finished eighth in the NFL in both passing offense and scoring. Running back Jonathan Taylor also rushed for 1,585 yards under Cooter’s direction.

For Lions fans, Cooter’s name carries plenty of history. Detroit hired him as quarterbacks coach in 2014 before promoting him to offensive coordinator midway through the 2015 season after Joe Lombardi was fired. Cooter went on to hold the OC job in Detroit through the 2018 season, overseeing the Matthew Stafford-led offense before the organization chose not to renew his contract.

Since leaving Detroit, Cooter has continued to build his résumé, coaching with the Jets, Eagles, Jaguars, and now the Colts, where he has re-established himself as one of the league’s more respected offensive minds.

Now, more than a decade after first arriving in Detroit, Cooter could be on the move again — this time potentially returning to Philadelphia in a much larger role.