Will a successful postseason be enough to save Kevin Patullo's job?

Patullo has sparked conversation all season long ... Time to talk about the role the playoffs will have on his future.

By Reuben Frank • Published January 7, 2026

You might think firing Kevin Patullo or at least stripping him of play calling duties in 2026 is a no-brainer.

After the way the Eagles’ offense looked week after week during the regular season? Why would you bring him back? 

The Eagles were 24^th in total offense, 18^th in rushing yards, 23^rd in passing yards, 24^th in first downs per game, 24^th on third down and 20^thin offensive points per game at just 21.1. In six games vs. playoff teams, they averaged just 17.8 points per game.

It was hard to watch this offense most of the season. In eight of their last 13 games, they scored fewer than 20 points.

There’s no one thing they did consistently well. Despite one of the best running backs in the league, the ground attack was uneven. Despite two 1,000-yard receivers they averaged fewer than 200 passing yards per game. Despite a Super Bowl MVP quarterback they had the 8^th-fewest passing first downs in the league.

It wasn’t all Patullo. There were injuries, there were penalties, there were mistakes that weren’t on him. But his inability to get the offense into a rhythm and keep defenses off balance was glaring.

But I still think he might be back. Jalen Hurts has lamented for years the revolving door he’s had with play callers since he was in high school. Patullo is his sixth play caller in the NFL, and if Hurts feels like he’s going back to square one every offseason, when he has to get used to a new scheme, a new system, a new voice in his headset, that carries a lot of weight in the NovaCare Complex.

And, honestly, the fact that Sirianni didn’t change play callers as the offense muddled through the regular season tells you that there’s still a chance Patullo survives. Because if Sirianni had his mind up to make a change, he had plenty of opportunities over the past couple months. 

But if the decision whether to keep Patullo in his current role or move on with a new player hasn’t been made yet, it’s fair to assume Patullo will be coaching to save his job in the postseason. Because if the Eagles come out and score their usual 13 points against the 49ers, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be back. How do you bring back a play caller who is overseeing the most underachieving offense in the NFL? You don't. You can't.

But what if the offense does flip the switch in the postseason? What if the Eagles put up 30 points on that battered 49ers defense Sunday and then go into Chicago and score 30 more? What if Patullo shows over the next however many weeks that he can get the most out of the tremendous offensive talent on this roster? Then it’s hard to imagine Sirianni making a change, and he can sell the decision to keep Patullo by pointing to growth and big-time production when the games mattered the most.

The postseason is an opportunity for Patullo to show he can’t get the job done but also a chance for him to prove he belongs by getting this thing cranking. 

There are some outstanding candidates out there right now if the Eagles decide to move on from Patullo. 

Kevin Stefanski is a top offensive mind and a St. Joe’s Prep and Penn guy, although he’ll probably get a head coaching job. Brian Daboll worked wonders with Josh Allen before his ill-fated run as Giants head coach. Mike Kafka, once upon a time an Eagles draft and most recently Giants interim coach, is out there. Kliff Kingsbury will always be a hot name. Internally, QB coach Scot Loeffler is an intriguing name. Frank Reich’s name will always come up because of his close association with Sirianni.

So there are options. And the Eagles may have to start looking at them soon.

Is it fair for Patullo’s future to rest solely with how the offense looks in the postseason? It’s totally fair. 

Through 17 regular-season games, Patullo hasn’t done anything to inspire confidence. But he’s got this built-in second chance starting Sunday against the 49ers and their 20^th-ranked defense.

If he can get this group looking like the real, live, functional offense in the biggest games of the year, he deserves to stay because now at least there’s something positive to build on and hope for the future. 

But if it’s more of the same? Another 13 points or 15 or 17 points? More negative plays on first down, more 3-and-outs, more scoreless halves? 

Then he’s out of chances. Then it’s time to say good-bye.

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/postseason-enough-to-save-kevin-patullos-job/705030/

It really doesn't matter one way or the other. None of the guys listed have done anything offensively lately to talk them up. If we were to hire one of them, there would be virtually no noticeable changes made to the offense since it's a "Jalen Hurts" offense and we will continue to do the things he wants to do. All that is required is better execution by the players.

The Eagles could completely change the offensive scheme, but then Jalen may struggle to properly execute it from the QB position. I really don't see the Eagles making a big change for that reason.

One other thought --- When you have a dual threat QB and build an offense around that and then eliminate one aspect of the dual threat to "prevent injury," you neuter the offense and will struggle.

If we lose to San Fran and the offense looks like it has all year, there should be a change and OC is the one who will have to pay the price.

What would be even more interesting is, say, we make it to the NFCCG by winning game with scores like 17-13 or something similar where the offensive issues persist. By that point, most available decent OC's may be off the market and Sirianni will have the "we made it to the NFCCG with KP" in his back pocket.

We've been winning in spite of the coaches

If they lose to SF, then KP is fired on Monday. A few good names out there for replacement.

HE is the OC of a very high paid and talented Offense. He is responsible for the underachieving season.

Heck, the HC had to "get more involved in the Offense" because of how bad the play calling is. The players should be held accountable too. But it's much more easier to fire an OC than to fire players.

4 hours ago, LacesOut said:

If they lose to SF, then KP is fired on Monday. A few good names out there for replacement.

HE is the OC of a very high paid and talented Offense. He is responsible for the underachieving season.

Heck, the HC had to "get more involved in the Offense" because of how bad the play calling is. The players should be held accountable too. But it's much more easier to fire an OC than to fire players.

He did far less with the same players (minus Becton). Although injuries to most of the starting OL played a fairly big part.

Patullo made little progress during the season.......so I can't see that he turns into Bill Walsh during the playoffs.

BUT.......if they show some efficiency and score just 1 more touchdown a game, this defense will keep them in games.

But imagine if they win a Super Bowl with this pop-gun offense.......would they be the first team in history to fire their OC after a championship?

11 hours ago, brkmsn said:

It really doesn't matter one way or the other. None of the guys listed have done anything offensively lately to talk them up. If we were to hire one of them, there would be virtually no noticeable changes made to the offense since it's a "Jalen Hurts" offense and we will continue to do the things he wants to do. All that is required is better execution by the players.

The Eagles could completely change the offensive scheme, but then Jalen may struggle to properly execute it from the QB position. I really don't see the Eagles making a big change for that reason.

One other thought --- When you have a dual threat QB and build an offense around that and then eliminate one aspect of the dual threat to "prevent injury," you neuter the offense and will struggle.

Based on this comment by Hurts it sure doesn’t sound like he feels like he has much of an appreciation for Patullo.

Play-calling is one thing but the complete lack of leadership is my issue. Jurgens and Dickerson should have never been put on the field if they were unable to give 100% or damn near it. Nobody IMO said a world, Barkley should've been barking early, Brown was but it was only about him and his. A strong coordinator would've seen this and should've been chirping to Howie to acquire depth and rested those guys. Just my two cents.

5 hours ago, time2rock said:

Based on this comment by Hurts it sure doesn’t sound like he feels like he has much of an appreciation for Patullo.

That quote does seem bad when not framed within the question that was asked. He was asked about how he has managed to get to the postseason without working through a lingering injury issue unlike years past and if it was due to being used less as a runner.

In the same PC he was asked, "Why do you think you guys have been so good in the red zone and are there things you can apply to the open field from that?" He answered:

"I think we've been efficient. KP's done a really good job of leading the way in the red zone and coming up with some things that allowed us to be efficient."

Here's a link to the PC for those that did not watch it: https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/video/jalen-hurts-press-conference-january-7-2026