Following an embarrassing 24–15 Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles moved quickly and decisively: Kevin Patullo was demoted, stripped of all play-calling responsibilities, and replaced by a familiar face —

former head coach Doug Pederson, the man who delivered the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.

The decision came just hours after Lincoln Financial Field erupted in frustration. Under Patullo’s direction, the Eagles’ offense collapsed in a way few imagined possible.

Jalen Hurts completed only five passes,
A.J. Brown finished with just eleven yards,
Saquon Barkley managed only twenty-three rushing yards,
and Philadelphia produced a mere three points in the first half. 

Analysts from Amazon Prime to ESPN blasted the offensive performance. Tony Gonzalez asked bluntly, “Is the problem Patullo, Hurts, or Barkley? Whoever it is, the Eagles need to fix it immediately.”

 Richard Sherman echoed the sentiment, arguing the offense was “losing its identity more and more each week.”

Even though the Bears struggled offensively and Caleb Williams played poorly, the Eagles repeatedly undermined themselves. The second half opened with two drives totaling just

one yard, followed by a Hurts interception that triggered an eruption of boos and effectively sealed Patullo’s fate.

The Eagles confirmed Patullo will remain with the team as Pass Game Coordinator/Associate Head Coach

, a title that keeps him in the building but removes any meaningful influence over offensive strategy. Inside the locker room, several players were reportedly relieved, while fans went as far as saying they “miss Brian Johnson” — a clear sign of how far the unit had fallen.

In the midst of the crisis, Philadelphia made a stunning move: Doug Pederson is returning as the team’s new Offensive Coordinator.

Pederson, who led the Eagles to their first Lombardi Trophy, is expected to restore structure and creativity through a revamped offensive approach built around:

• RPOs and quick-game concepts to get Hurts back into rhythm,

• Credible play-action to open up explosive plays,

• Controlled QB runs to lighten the defensive box and support Barkley,

• and a

  scripted 10–15-play package to open the third quarter, addressing a long-standing weakness during the Patullo era.

Internal sources indicate Pederson will directly call plays, lead weekly self-scouting, and focus heavily on

third down, red zone execution, and high-leverage situations — all areas where the Eagles have consistently failed.

Head coach Nick Sirianni will retain overarching authority, but Pederson is now responsible for stabilizing the offense immediately: tightening spacing, enforcing sharper route discipline, improving in-game adjustments, and restoring the championship standard that defined Philadelphia’s 2017 run.

With Hurts struggling, Barkley neutralized, and Brown limited, the Eagles now face the real possibility of slipping out of playoff contention. Pederson’s return is viewed internally as the only viable emergency solution — a chance to restore identity and bring back the offensive coherence the team has lacked all season.

One team insider summed up the organization’s hopes in one sentence:

“If there’s anyone who can lift this offense back to life immediately, it’s Doug.”

Demote Patullo. Bring back Pederson.

The Eagles have officially entered a desperate midseason rebuild — and this may be the final chance to salvage 2025.