Former Packers DC Reportedly Interviewing With Eagles

As the Eagles continue to reshape their coaching staff for 2024, they are reportedly bringing in a former defensive coordinator for an interview.

The Eagles are expected to interview former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry for a position, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported.

Former Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry will apply for positions on the defensive staffs of the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, according to sources. Philly comes first…
– Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 26, 2024

With Vic Fangio becoming the Eagles' next defensive coordinator, it looks like Barry is in the running for a coaching job. Barry previously served as a linebackers coach in the NFL with the Rams, Chargers and Bucs. In fact, he held that role with the Chargers from 2012 to 2014, rotating with young Nick Sirianni. So there is a familiarity with the Eagles head coach.

Barry, 53, was released by the Packers earlier this week after three years as a DC in Green Bay. He also played as a DC for Washington and Detroit in the NFL.

The Eagles' linebackers coach last season was former Temple DC DJ Eliot, replacing Nick Rallis, who moved to Arizona with Jonathan Gannon after the 2022 season.

Due to the turnover at both coordinator positions this offseason, it is likely that there will be multiple coaching changes. Sirianni was asked about this during his season-ending press conference on Wednesday. Aside from long-time offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, it's hard to imagine any other coaches being secure at this position.

“We are still working. We're still working. Yes, and that’s the hard part,” Sirianni said. “You’re still working and there are still a few people up in the air. I hate that for them, because we're replacing coordinators, and there are people who are up in the air, and their families are up in the air, in the sense of, I need to put a coordinator in place before we make a decision on maybe some of the quality controls or some of the position coaches.

“I know I believe in the guys upstairs, but there also needs to be an opportunity for some of the coordinators to maybe bring one or two of their guys or more. This is still an evaluation process. That's something that may not be resolved until the coordinator is hired, until that coordinator meets some of the guys and makes sure they can work together. So that’s still a process we’re going through.”

If Barry ends up coaching the Eagles' linebackers, he may not have much to work with. The Eagles' top off-ball contributors in 2023 were Zach Cunningham and Nicholas Morrow. Cunningham didn't sign until August and Morrow didn't even make the initial 53-man roster.

The Eagles are still high on 2022 third-round pick Nakobe Dean, but in his first chance to become a full-time starter in 2023, Dean struggled to stay on the field and landed on IR twice.