Sean

Desai

Desai was dismissed by the Eagles at the end of last season but fielded interest from the Bills and Falcons to fill their defensive coordinator vacancies. Now, the former defensive coordinator who lost play-calling duties to Matt Patricia in the middle of the season will head to the Rams to serve in a not-yet-specified senior defensive role. Desai has spent time with the Bears, Seahawks, and Eagles over the last 11 seasons and could be on the market for another coordinator role as early as next offseason.

Desai is coming off a rough season as Eagles defensive coordinator, losing play-calling duties to Matt Patricia towards the end of the season. Desai has been a respected defensive coordinator, working with the Bears and Seahawks in that capacity over the last few seasons as well. The Bills and Falcons each need a new defensive coordinator and Desai is now a candidate for either job.

Desai lost play-calling duties earlier this season, so this move doesn’t come as much of a surprise. His demotion, however, didn’t help the Eagles, as under Matt Patricia, the defense continued to struggle, allowing 25 or more points in each of their last four games, including their Wild Card loss to the Buccaneers. Desai will likely draw some interest on the open market and has served as defensive coordinator with the Bears in 2021.

Patricia was hired as a senior defensive assistant in the spring following his failed stint as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. With the Eagles’ defense falling off a cliff this year, head coach Nick Sirianni had to make a change eventually. Sean Desai is also a new addition to the Eagles’ staff. He became Philly’s defensive coorindator after Jonathan Gannon was hired away by Arizona. Desai had previously spent time as an associate head coach with the Seahawks.

Desai showed some clever ideas in his one year as Bears defensive coordinator before Chicago fired Matt Nagy and rebooted. It’s a nice fit for him in Philadelphia as he’ll replace Jonathan Gannon working with one of the league’s most talented defenses. Desai also interviewed with the Browns, Vikings, Dolphins, and Broncos this offseason for their defensive coordinator vacancies.

Talk has cooled a bit on Desai, who was once on the radar for defensive coordinator roles with the Vikings, Brown, and Dolphins. He remains in the running for the Broncos’ defensive coordinator job, but Desai will also have a chance to take over an Eagles defense that ranked seventh in points per game (20.2) and sixth in DOVA (-9.7%). Desai served as defensive coordinator for the Bears in 2021, and was a defensive quality control coach (2013-2018) and safeties coach (2019-2020) with them before that.

Per Klis, Desai wants to concentrate on the Denver job. The Vikings and Dolphins requested interviews with Desai, but Miami went in another direction and Desai has taken himself out of the race in Minnesota. With Sean Payton tabbed as the Broncos’ next head coach, Ejiro Evero, their current defensive coordinator, is expected to depart in the offseason. Desai now looks like the front-runner to replace him.

Desai has become a hot name in recent weeks, landing interviews for the defensive coordinator jobs in Miami and Minnesota before drawing interest from Sean Payton’s Broncos. It appears either Desai or Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores will get the Denver DC job, with current Broncos DC Ejiro Evero likely to coach elsewhere in 2023. Desai has already been in the league for a decade. He got his start with the Bears as a defensive quality control coach and worked his way up to defensive coordinator for the 2021 season.

Desai interviewed with the Browns for their vacancy at defensive coordinator, but the position has since been filled. At just 39 years old, Desai has already been in the league for a decade. He got his start with the Bears as a defensive quality control coach and worked his way up to defensive coordinator for the 2021 season. He was not retained after Matt Nagy was fired.

Desai served in a number of roles with the Bears from 2013 to 2021, with his last being as defensive coordinator. He was dismissed by the team following the firing of Matt Nagy at the end of the 2021 campaign but quickly latched on with the Seahawks as an associated head coach/defensive assistant. Desai is now one of three candidates expected to interview for the Browns’ defensive coordinator vacancy, with Brian Flores and Jerod Mayo also on tap for interviews.