Playoff football is inherently full of pressure, and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo could really be feeling the heat this postseason.
The defending-champion Eagles are in the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, but after an underwhelming regular season for Philadelphia’s offense that saw the unit struggle to produce points consistently and go extended periods of time without putting any points on the board at all, Patullo could be coaching for his job in the playoffs.
Kevin Patullo might need a great playoff showing to save his job
Despite the immense talent on offense that includes the likes of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the Eagles ranked in the bottom-half of the league in both yards and points during the regular season, and they frequently had to rely on the defense to bail the team out of difficult circumstances.
Philadelphia’s uneven offensive output has led some across the league’s landscape to speculate about Patullo’s future beyond the current campaign, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
“Some around the league are wondering about the future of Kevin Patullo because of the offense's struggles,” Fowler wrote. “Patullo has clout in Philadelphia because of his strong relationships with key players and a long-standing position as a Nick Sirianni confidant.
“The offensive line's quality of play has certainly not been the same as last year's, which is bad timing for Patullo. The offense ranks 24th in yards per game, which is tough considering the overall talent of the group."
The Eagles have demonstrated that they aren’t afraid to move on from an offensive coordinator after just one season, as they did just that with Brian Johnson after the disaster that was the 2023 season. Johnson’s tenure concluded with a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
To avoid a similar fate, Patullo might need to do what Johnson couldn’t do, and that’s turn it up in the playoffs. If Philadelphia’s offense somehow finds another gear in the postseason and the team goes on a run, that could alter the conversation around the first-year play-caller. But, if the offense sputters, calls for change are going to reach a fever pitch.
Two factors that could work in Patullo’s favor when it comes to potentially keeping his job is his close relationship with Sirianni, and the concept of continuity. If the Eagles move on from Patullo after the season, they’ll enter the 2026 season with a new OC for a fifth consecutive season, which isn’t ideal from a continuity standpoint.
But, neither of those factors should prevent the organization from making the move if Philadelphia’s postseason offense looks the same as its’ regular season offense.
So, all eyes will be on the Eagles offense when the team takes the field against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Patullo’s future in Philly could depend on how the unit performs under the bright lights.
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