Eagles’ end-of-season press conference: look to ‘evolve’ offense in 2026, A.J. Brown trade possibility opens

Nick Sirianni and Howie Roseman held their end-of-season press conference at the NovaCare Complex across the street from where the Eagles’ campaign concluded on Thursday afternoon — and the word of the day was evolve.

“I think it’s important that we continue to evolve as an offense,” Sirianni said.

The Eagles relieved Kevin Patullo from his duties as offensive coordinator on Tuesday. They will now look for their fifth different play-caller in five years. Sirianni says they will look for “the guy that best fits us.”

The word evolve was utilized plenty. The Eagles are looking to develop this offense. It took a major step back in 2025. 2026 could look a little different, advance the style, and have this offense take a major leap back forward.

Now, the team will have to hit a home run with their hire to assemble that transformation. If they want to grow, it could come with a different offensive staff, something the Eagles have been reluctant to do. It could also come at the cost of Sirianni being removed from this offense and reverting to his “head football coach” role.

“I think that’s way too early,” Sirianni said when asked if the next coordinator will have full control of the offense. “Those decisions don’t have to be made for a long time. As the head coach, you always have to be oversight of everything. And, again, this year, obviously, I did, I got more involved in the offense as the end of the season came, because that’s what I needed to do as the head football coach there.

“So, yeah, again… many different ways to do it. I know that I want to be the head football coach, and I think that that’s what the team needs. Again, everything I’m doing is not about what I want to do or anything like that; it’s what I think is best for the football team. And I think it’s best for the football team when I’m the head football coach. And being able to give my expertise on whatever it may be.

“Tackling, taking the ball away, protecting the football… anything on offense, it could be anything. Special teams. So, yeah, again, you have to be so intertwined as the leader of the organization, you have to be so intertwined with every different thing. So, we’ll see where all that goes, as far as that goes. But we’ve had a lot of success doing it different ways. Again, it’s never like this is the certain thing you have to do. There’s a lot of different ways to do it, and different times of the season and different times of the year call for different things. We’ll see how that plays out.

“We’re not there yet as far as that goes.”

The Eagles have been rumored to be seeking an established name they can hold onto as their next OC. Brian Daboll and Mike McDaniel are the two early names thrown out there. When asked about the search, Sirianni used the word “I” when discussing the hiring process. The connotation seems to be that Sirianni will make the next OC hire. He was also the one who hired Patullo.

For Patullo, he was never fired. He was just removed from his position. Technically, he could stay on the Eagles’ staff.

“We’ll see how that plays out,” Sirianni said, while also adding that Patullo will have other opportunities he could explore.

Another question involving this offense’s future is whether or not it will include A.J. Brown. Brown had a controversial 2025 season, concluding horribly on Sunday in the Eagles’ Wild Card loss to the 49ers with just three catches and three drops for 25 yards, got into a yelling match with Sirianni on the sidelines, and did not speak to the media postgame.

“It’s hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player,” Roseman said when asked about whether he would be open to trading Brown. “That’s what we’re going out and looking for, when we go out in free agency and the draft, is trying to find great players who love football and he’s that guy. So that would be my answer.”

When asked previously, Roseman had immediately shut down the idea of moving Brown. He never said no with this answer, which is really an eye-opener.

A pre-June 1 trade of Brown means the Eagles would be taking on the fourth-largest single-season dead cap hit in history at $20.1 million.

Now, of course, Roseman, who did not do as much talking in this presser as he typically does, was not going to come out and pronounce that the Eagles were shopping Brown. He is a Pro Bowl-level wide receiver, one of the best at his position. However, this answer will certainly raise some eyebrows.

A new coordinator could lure Brown’s interest back into Philadelphia. It could also change how Jalen Hurts manages the offense. He may have to be willing to do different things in 2026.

“I think you saw this year that he’s open to doing a bunch,” Sirianni said. “We were under center more than we have been. Different motions. Different things. Jalen will do whatever it takes to win football games. Sometimes that’s throwing it a bunch. Sometimes it’s running it a bunch. Sometimes it’s handing it off a bunch. All I ever know from Jalen is that the man will do anything to win football games. He pushes himself to do new things. He has proven that all he cares about is winning and holding the trophy up at the end of the year.”

At the end of the day, the 2025 season was a failure for the Eagles. A team that was set up so well to repeat as champions ultimately fell short of its goal. They now look to evolve in 2026 and get back to the top.

“If confetti isn’t falling on our head, it’s not good enough,” Roseman said. “When we fall short, I look at myself. I look to improve.”

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