April 01, 2026
Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images
New Eagles OC Sean Mannion's former staff with the Packers speak very highly of him.
Eagles brass did plenty of talking on Eagles topics this week in Arizona at the annual owners meetings. Jimmy Kempski had it all covered, with his takeaways on the press conferences from owner Jeffrey Lurie, head coach Nick Sirianni and personnel chief Howie Roseman.
But there was plenty of Eagles chatter out there from non-Eagles personnel folks, too.
Here's a roundup from around other NFL coaches talking about Eagles topics and themes, specifically about some of the Eagles' offseason additions:
Dolphins new head coach Jeff Hafley, who was the Packers' defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, shed some insight on new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
Mannion spent his past two seasons – his only two seasons – as an NFL coach in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur, going from offensive assistant to QBs coach. Hafley witnessed firsthand how Mannion prepared Packers QB Jordan Love and backup Malik Willis, who just signed a big free agent deal to play for Hafley in Miami, and called Mannion one of the "hardest workers" on the staff.
"I love Sean," Hafley said (check the 28-minute mark). "What Sean did with Jordan, what Sean did getting Malik ready. One of the hardest workers that I've seen at a younger age. Always in the building, always working at it, always one-on-one with the quarterbacks, doing extra things – and he played the position."
Mannion, a Rams third-round pick in 2018, played eight season in the NFL for three different teams and went straight into coaching after retiring following the 2023 season.
"You could say he's only coached two years, but his time as a quarterback in the NFL – all he's doing is learning football and he's doing it," Hafley added. "What he'll bring to that quarterback room and what he'll bring to that offense, I think he's going to be awesome. I'll always root for him – he's an awesome guy."
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who first coached Mannion as the Rams' OC in 2017, echoed Hafley's sentiment on Mannion's work ethic, per PHLY, saying that Mannion "is gonna crush it, he's going to do a great job. He's one of the hardest workers I've been around."
Matt LaFleur calls Sean Mannion one of the hardest workers he’s been around. pic.twitter.com/vXhghMYaHC
— PHLY Eagles (@PHLY_Eagles) March 30, 2026
It's unclear how the Eagles will use new wide receiver Hollywood Brown, whether on the outside or in the slot. Much of that will depend on whether the Eagles trade A.J. Brown.
The Eagles haven't had a true slot receiver for the past few years, and Brown hasn't been restricted to the slot in his career. He came out of Oklahoma with tons of speed (running a 4.27 40-yard dash), but over the course of his career, he has averaged just 11.6 yards per reception. Brown has also endured injuries and played just two games in 2024, the first of his two seasons in Kansas City.
At his table, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Brown's speed is still top notch, and that Brown can maneuver around the middle field well despite his 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame.
"He's got huge speed, and he knows how to track the ball," Reid said (h/t PHLY), adding that Brown is "fearless working through the middle of the field."
“He’s got speed and he can track the ball.”
— PHLY Eagles (@PHLY_Eagles) March 31, 2026
Andy Reid on Hollywood Brown pic.twitter.com/H58WpEOQQn
When the Eagles signed cornerback Riq Woolen to a one-year deal worth up to $12 million, it was viewed as an ideal prove-it contract for the Super Bowl champion and a sign that Seattle didn't want to retain him.
But Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald appeared to take umbrage with a question about why the defending champs were willing to let Woolen walk away.
"We didn't let him go," Macdonald said, somewhat chuckling at his own response to the question (15:50 mark).
Macdonald was then asked what the Eagles are getting in the fifth-year corner.
"He's been a great player," Macdonald said. "We love Riq. He's a great player. We just can't afford him."
The Seahawks weren't able to retain several starters from their Super Bowl squad, including Woolen, running back Kenneth Walker, safety Cobe Bryant and EDGE Boye Mafe.
They gave a blockbuster contract extension to Jaxson Smith-Ngiba that made him the NFL's highest paid receiver and they're likely to extend cornerback Devon Witherspoon on a top-market deal. But also, the Seahawks had reduced Woolen's role over time, and Woolen's name had come up in trade talks before the deadline, so Macdonald might not have been completely honest about cost being the only reason he didn't return.
Mike Vrabel has made some comments this offseason that reveal his affinity for A.J. Brown, who he coached in Tennessee before the Titans traded Brown to the Eagles.
And, of course, Brown has made some comments this season revealing his affinity for Brown and the Patriots franchise.
Vrabel was much more circumspect in Arizona when asked about a potential trade for Brown, but he also still left the door wide open for an eventual trade.
Asked if a trade for Brown was still on the table, here was Vrabel's response (9:20 mark):
"We've talked about this since last January. We're gonna try to do everything we can to strengthen our roster – through the draft, through free agency, multiple ways of player acquisition. Anything that we continue to do to strengthen the roster we're going to try to do."
Translation: It's still on the table.
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