PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sticking with their plan for an exhaustive search to replace Andy Reid, the Philadelphia Eagles added Lovie Smith to their list of candidates.
The Eagles will interview Smith for their coaching vacancy on Thursday, making him just the second former head coach to be considered for the job.
Smith was fired last Monday after going 81-63 in nine seasons with Chicago. He led the Bears to three division titles, two trips to the NFC championship game and a loss to Indianapolis in the Super Bowl following the 2006 season. Despite winning 10 games this season, Smith lost his job after the team went 3-5 following a 7-1 start and missed the playoffs.
The Eagles, who fired Andy Reid after 14 seasons, also plan to interview Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley this week. They've also received permission to interview Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and president Don Smolenski already have interviewed Atlanta assistants Mike Nolan and Keith Armstrong, Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Penn State's Bill O'Brien and Oregon's Chip Kelly. O'Brien and Kelly chose to remain at their schools.
Nolan is the only one among the coordinators with previous head coaching experience. He was 18-37 in 3½ seasons with San Francisco.
"It's flattering when someone wants to talk with you," Nolan said. "Philadelphia is a great organization. They have a tremendous owner, much like we do here. I think whoever ends up with that job is going to do a good job and also appreciate the fact that is a great organization. They don't change coaches very often. It's been 14 years since they changed the last time, and that's a credit to their entire organization — not just to Andy, who I think is a hell of a coach — but it's a real credit to them.
Next Story
