Caplan: Eagles Considering James Urban
UPDATE - 1/20: The Baltimore Ravens have retained James Urban
After the Festivus of seeing Mike Groh walk, Eagles fans eagerly await the next Offensive Coordinator to be named. James Urban, the mastermind of Lamar Jackson’s 2019 MVP campaign, has recently been linked to Philadelphia.
Back to back seasons have been plagued by injuries and the absence of Frank Reich. Former Eagles QB Coach and more recently Vikings OC John DeFilippo is in conversation with the Bears to become their newest, but Philadelphia’s newest offensive mastermind is still waiting to be anointed. After finishing 3rd in points for in 2017, the Eagles have struggled to make use of their weapons — Groh’s successor is inheriting an old, injured team and lofty expectations from a city that expects greatness.
Adam Caplan of NFL Insider reported that James Urban is being considered by Philadelphia as a possible hire.
While the likes of Duce Staley and Joe Brady are still whispered down Packer Ave, the hiring of Urban would make plenty of sense given his ties to the franchise.
Urban to Philly wouldn’t be the first time he rode the coattails of injury into a coaching gig: his initial hire as an Assistant to the Head Coach under Andy Reid in 2003 came after his predecessor left training camp with a torn patellar tendon. Quickly promoted, Urban aided in the role full-time until being promoted to Offensive Assistant. He assumed responsibility of the quarterback position in 2009, working in tandem to engineer Michael Vick’s near-MVP season in 2010 with then-Offensive Quality Control Coach Doug Pederson.
Urban served as the Bengals’ WR Coach from 2011 to 2018, developing AJ Green and helping vault Cincinnati to a 3rd ranked Offense in the AFC twice (‘13, ‘15). With Baltimore’s stunning upset at the hands of the Titans, Urban ended the 2019 season as the QB Coach of Lamar Jackson, responsible for a record-breaking MVP season.
Adding Urban to the system would make sense for Philadelphia. He has a proven track record specializing in developing offensive talent. Where Groh inherited skill and did nothing with it, Urban finds himself with an offense in flux: will Jordan Howard stay? What will Howie do with Nelson Agholor? Is Greg Ward a starter now? Whether we like it or not, how to develop Carson Wentz is still a question plaguing this franchise.
James Urban has succeeded in Philadelphia, and if Caplan’s reports are accurate linking him as a likely hire, fans should be excited about what’s to come in 2020. Caplan reported that the Eagles are taking their time on the decision, so do not expect developments any time soon.
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