At a Glance
- The Philadelphia Eagles have asked the Indianapolis Colts for permission to interview Jim Bob Cooter for their offensive coordinator opening.
- Cooter and head coach Nick Sirianni worked together on the 2012 Chiefs staff and again when Cooter was an Eagles offensive consultant in 2021.
- In three seasons as Colts OC, the offense ranked 9th in points and 12th in total yards.
- Why it matters: Hiring Cooter would reunite him with Sirianni and potentially upgrade an offense that just lost coordinator Kevin Patullo.
The Eagles are moving quickly to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy, formally requesting permission to interview Colts play-caller Jim Bob Cooter, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Cooter’s ties to head coach Nick Sirianni run deep. The two first shared a sideline in 2012 on Romeo Crennel’s Chiefs staff. A decade later, Cooter returned to Philadelphia as an offensive consultant, a role Sirianni praised for its behind-the-scenes impact.
Sirianni’s Praise
Sirianni was effusive when asked about Cooter’s contribution during the 2021 season.
“Obviously, he’s got a lot of experience and he’s a great football mind,” Sirianni said. “I think very highly of him. He’s doing special projects for me and consulting here, which has been great.”
The coach highlighted Cooter’s knack for researching new plays before they were installed.
“When you put a new play into your system that you maybe saw on tape, I think it’s very easy for a coach to do that and be like, ‘Oh, I saw that on tape. This looks great. I’m just going to throw it my offense.’ Well, do you know everything there is to know about that play?”
Sirianni credited Cooter with removing that hesitation.
“I’ve already seen the benefit of that with a couple new wrinkles we have in this offense. So really excited to have him.”
Career Path
Cooter’s résumé spans multiple franchises and roles:
- 2009-2011: Colts offensive assistant under Jim Caldwell
- 2012: Chiefs offensive assistant alongside Sirianni
- 2013: Broncos offensive quality control coach under John Fox
- 2016-2018: Lions offensive coordinator under Jim Caldwell and Matt Patricia
- 2019-2020: Jets running backs coach under Adam Gase
- 2021: Eagles offensive consultant
- 2022: Jaguars passing game coordinator under Doug Pederson
- 2023-present: Colts offensive coordinator under Shane Steichen
Production in Indianapolis
Since taking over as Colts offensive coordinator in 2023, Cooter has overseen steady improvement.
| Season | Total Offense Rank | Points per Game | Notable Feats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10th | 24.2 | Anthony Richardson’s rookie year |
| 2024 | 17th | 22.8 | Mid-season QB carousel |
| 2025 | 8th | 26.1 | Daniel Jones’ breakthrough |
Overall, the Colts sit 9th in points and 12th in total yards during Cooter’s tenure.
This past season, Indianapolis opened 8-2 before finishing 8-9, yet still placed 8th in scoring and 8th in yards per play. Quarterback Daniel Jones posted career highs before a season-ending injury, while running back Jonathan Taylor amassed nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns.
Viewed as Promotion
Because Shane Steichen handles play-calling duties in Indianapolis, a shift to Philadelphia-where the OC would call plays-would be considered a promotion, allowing the Colts to block the move only by offering Cooter a raise or expanded responsibilities.
Other Candidates
Cooter joins a short list of known candidates:
- Mike Kafka: Former Eagles draft pick, current Giants offensive coordinator since 2022
- Zac Robinson: Falcons offensive coordinator
Both Kafka and Robinson have already completed interviews, per multiple reports.
Timeline
The Eagles’ search began last week after the club fired Kevin Patullo, who had served as passing game coordinator and de facto offensive coordinator under Sirianni.
Philadelphia hopes to finalize a hire before the NFL Scouting Combine in late February, allowing the new coordinator ample time to install his system ahead of organized team activities this spring.
