Matthew Harper returns as the Eagles’ assistant special teams coach, a position he held from 2013-14 before transitioning to assistant defensive backs coach in 2015. He started alongside Brian Dawkins at safety in 1999, when Pederson played in Philadelphia.
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This is a brand new coaching staff, though, that won’t necessarily feel trapped into going with any of the roster moves made by former coach Chip Kelly. Reich was sacked along with the rest of the Cardinals’ offensive staff after the season.
Reich comes to the Eagles having coached in the National Football League since 2008, when he got his first job as an Indianapolis Colts offensive coaching assistant. The following year, the Colts cut Manning and cleaned house by firing coach Jim Caldwell and most of his staff, including Reich.
The 54 year old spent two seasons with the Chargers but also has two seasons of play-calling experience which strangely is more than new Head Coach Doug Pederson.
Pederson and Reich also had long careers as backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
Pederson, 47, worked with Alex Smith in Kansas City and, before that, with Mike Vick and Nick Foles as the quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia. Additionally, the team’s quarterback, Philip Rivers, led the AFC in passing yards (4,792) in 2015 under the offensive coordinator’s command. A pair of former Eagles players are rejoining the team as assistants: Tim Hauck, who will coach defensive backs/safeties, and Greg Lewis, who will coach wide receivers.Hauck played 13 seasons for seven teams, including three with the Eagles. Ken Flajole joins the Eagles as the team’s linebackers coach and enters his 17th season as a coach in the NFL. Lewis signed as a rookie free agent with Philadelphia in 2003 and played eight seasons in the National Football League with the Eagles (2003-08) and Minnesota Vikings (2009-10).
The team has not named a quarterbacks coach or defensive line coach.
Later that day, when the Eagles trailed the Saints 20-7 in a wild-card game, head coach Rich Kotite used the Bills’ comeback to inspire the Eagles to a record 26-point fourth quarter and a comeback win of their own. Undlin was a popular addition last season and earned the respect of the defensive backs.
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The one thing to remember about most of Reich’s coaching career: he’s had a franchise quarterback.
