The Philadelphia Eagles have fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai, CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones confirms NFL media report. It's expected to be the first of many sweeping changes on that side of the ball. Desai lasted only one season as the team's defensive coordinator and 13 games as defensive game manager before being replaced by Matt Patricia a month before the end of the regular season.
Nick Sirianni was the one who fired Desai, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Another indication that the head coach will return for next season. Patricia had a one-year contract that has expired and he is exploring other options.
Essentially a panic attack as Philadelphia switched defenses after two poor performances against the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. In Desai's last six games as a defensive play caller, the Eagles ranked 32nd in the NFL in third-down defense (54.8%) and red zone defense (78.3%) – a league-high 428.2 yards per game and 297.8 passing yards means per game.
Philadelphia ranked 31st in the league in points allowed per game (30.0) and allowed more than 30 points in three consecutive games for the first time since 1967 – the last three games were controlled by Desai.
The Eagles brought Desai into the locker room in favor of Matt Patricia, but the results weren't much better. Philadelphia ranked 28th in yards allowed per game (375.8), 26th in rush yards allowed per game (131.0), 24th in passing yards allowed per game (244.8 ), ranked 26th in yards allowed per game (5.8) and 28th in points allowed per game (27.8) in the five games under Patricia (including postseason).
When the Eagles traded for Patricia, Desai was essentially a lame duck as defensive coordinator. The Eagles ranked 30th in points per possession allowed (2.35) and 31st in yards per possession allowed (34.6) this season.
The team has neither reported nor announced whether additional defensive coaches besides Desai and Patricia will be hired. It seems unlikely that many of the defensive coaches will be retained.