As the Philadelphia Eagles navigate the dog days of summer before training camp begins in July, speculation swirls around the team's newest offensive coordinator. Kevin Patullo steps into a role that comes with significant baggage after Brian Johnson's catastrophic 2023 season, but the circumstances surrounding Patullo's promotion suggest a dramatically different outcome awaits.
The concerns are understandable. When Shane Steichen departed for Indianapolis following the Eagles' Super Bowl LVII appearance, Johnson inherited an offense primed for continued success. Instead, the unit collapsed spectacularly. Jalen Hurts threw a career-high 15 interceptions, the team stumbled to a 1-6 finish in its final seven games, and the season ended in humiliating fashion with a 32-9 Wild Card loss to Tampa Bay.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently identified Patullo as a potential “roster flaw” that could derail Philadelphia’s championship aspirations, drawing parallels between the two first-time play-callers who replaced departed coordinators—Johnson after Steichen, and now Patullo following Kellen Moore’s departure for New Orleans. But the comparison ignores key differences that make Patullo’s situation vastly superior to Johnson’s doomed tenure.
Unlike Johnson, who served primarily as quarterbacks coach before his promotion, Patullo has been deeply embedded in Philadelphia’s offensive infrastructure as passing game coordinator. He’s been Nick Sirianni’s right-hand man for years, instrumental in game planning and player development. This isn’t a coordinator learning on the job—it’s a coach stepping into a role he’s already been partially fulfilling. Patullo understands the system because he helped build it.
The personnel upgrades are significant. The addition of Saquon Barkley transforms the backfield entirely, giving the Eagles a dynamic workhorse who can run between the tackles, catch passes, and serve as a reliable outlet for Hurts. That’s a far cry from the 2023 committee approach that yielded inconsistent results. Barkley’s presence provides schematic flexibility Johnson never had and adds a layer of balance that can prevent defensive overloads on the passing game.
Vic Fangio’s arrival as defensive coordinator also lessens the burden. With a top-tier defense in place, Patullo isn’t under pressure to score 30-plus points every week. Johnson often coached with the understanding that his unit had to compensate for defensive shortcomings. Patullo enters a more balanced team environment, where field position and game control are viable paths to victory.
Then there’s the matter of hindsight. Johnson’s tenure offered a masterclass in what not to do—overreliance on bubble screens, poorly timed deep shots, and baffling red-zone decisions that often left points on the field. Patullo had a front-row seat for the dysfunction and now holds the benefit of learning from it without wearing its scars.
The psychological contrast may be the most important edge. Johnson walked into a championship-or-bust scenario with sky-high expectations and a Super Bowl hangover looming. Patullo inherits a unit that was humbled by failure, motivated by redemption rather than perfection. That reset in attitude, paired with institutional knowledge and a healthier roster, gives him a far more manageable runway.
Kevin Patullo still faces pressure—this is Philadelphia, and the Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl win. But unlike his predecessor, he steps into the role with the trust of the head coach, the support of an upgraded roster, and the clarity of knowing exactly how and why the previous system failed. That might be all he needs to turn the Eagles’ offense back into a championship-caliber machine.