Former Florida Coach Brian Johnson Promoted to Philadelphia Eagles OC
Philadelphia has promoted former Florida offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Johnson will replace former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, who was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts on February 14.
A three-year member of Dan Mullen's Florida coaching staff from 2018-20, Johnson left his role of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach with the Gators following quarterback Kyle Trask's 46-touchdown Heisman Trophy finalist campaign, joining the Eagles as the team's quarterbacks coach under then-new head coach Nick Sirianni.
Sirianni originally handled play-calling in his first season as head coach but handed the duties to Steichen during the season in order to focus solely on head coaching responsibilities. Johnson is expected to call plays as Steichen did in the role.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts spoke glowingly of Johnson when Philadelphia plucked Johnson away from UF in 2021, acknowledging a relationship that has lasted nearly 20 years. Hurts' father coached Johnson at Baytown (Texas) Tyler Lee in the early 2000s before Johnson went on to play quarterback at Utah, for one season under Mullen.
Since Johnson's hiring, Hurts has soared to new heights as Philadelphia's franchise quarterback.
After compiling 3,144 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions with 784 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground in 2021, Hurts put together an MVP-candidate campaign in 2022, finishing the regular season with 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions passing with 760 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing.
Hurts led the Eagles to a Super Bowl LVII appearance, and despite the 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he put together a historical performance in the game, setting the Super Bowl record for quarterback rushing yards (70) and tying the record of three rising touchdowns scored. He paired a dominant ground showing with a 27-of-38, 304-yard, one-touchdown passing line.
Steichen was rewarded for his contributions to Hurts' development and the Eagles' offensive success with a head coaching job, and Hurts believes Johnson will eventually receive the same treatment. For now, he's surely happy to keep Johnson around in Philadelphia a little longer.
“Hopefully we can keep him here as long as we possibly can,” Hurts said on Feb. 7. "But nonetheless I’m proud of him. It’s definitely just the beginning for the both of us. He’s going to be a star one day, he’s going to be a big-time head coach one day.”
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