Jim Bob

Cooter

Cooter has also been linked to the Eagles this offseason and has interviewed with them twice. As a non-playcaller behind Shane Steichen in Indianapolis, it’s natural that he’d accept a lateral move that allows him to call plays. It’s also possible this is a leverage interview to try to draw an offer from Philadelphia, though that would just be speculation on our part.

The Eagles are still searching for their next offensive coordinator, now having interviewed the Colts’ Jim Bob Cooter both virtually and in-person. Cooter is offensive coordinator of the Colts, coaching offenses with rotating quarterbacks and Jonathan Taylor as the constant since 2023. The Eagles bringing him in for a second interview indicates Cooter is a finalist for the role.

Cooter reunites with Colts head coach Shane Steichen after the two spent 2021 as members of the Eagles’ coaching staff. Cooter’s last offensive coordinator role came with the Lions (2016-2018), where in his best season, he had them ranked 13th in yards per game (337.8) and seventh in points per game (25.60). He showed a propensity at times to throw early and often with then-Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, and will likely have a young new signal-caller to coach up in 2023.

Cooter lost out on the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator role but was recently tied to the Panthers. A former offensive coordinator of the Lions, Cooter’s best season as a coordinator came in 2017 when the Lions finished 13th in yards per game (337.8) and seventh in points (25.6). In his three seasons with the Lions, they ranked ninth in early down pass rate (54.5%) and were 12th in EPA per dropback (0.078). Cooter, 38, and Colts head coach Shane Steichen were both members of the Eagles’ 2021 staff, with Cooter serving as a consultant.

The way it reads, Carolina’s first choice for the position is Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, but he’s expected to either be elevated to offensive coordinator in Philadelphia or, perhaps, poached by the Cardinals for their offensive coordinator gig if Jonathan Gannon gets that job. “Cooter appears to be [Frank] Reich’s fallback option if Johnson doesn’t pan out,” Person writes. Cooter coordinated the Lions offense with Matthew Stafford in the 2010s and was reliant on the quick-passing game at the time. It’s unclear if he’d call plays or if Reich would assume those duties if Cooter were hired.

The request means that Duce Staley, who was just reported to be joining the Panthers staff, will not hold the role of offensive coordinator. He will, however, hold a higher position in Carolina than he did with the Lions. Cooter has also interviewed with the Bucs for their offensive coordinator vacancy. After a solid stint with the Lions, Cooter has played various roles for the Jets, Eagles, and Jaguars over the past four years. Already having their offensive guru in Frank Reich, Cooter would be a safe choice for the Panthers’ OC vacancy.

Cooter joins Vikings WRs coach Keenan McCardell and (soon to be former) Broncos QBs coach Klint Kubiak in speaking to replace Byron Leftwich. Although he is only 38 years old, Cooter has been an NFL assistant since 2009. Despite his relatively decent three-year coordinator stint with the Lions, Cooter would be a highly-uninspiring choice to replace Leftwich, and certainly wouldn’t be a reason Tom Brady decided to stay in Tampa.

Cooter served as the Lions’ offensive coordinator from 2016-2018 and has bounced around the league since first joining the Colts as an offensive assistant in 2009. He was hired as the Jaguars’ pass-game coordinator last offseason and helped turn them into a top-10 passing team in his first season, which also included an appearance in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs. Once considered a future head coach, Cooter, 38, could reignite those conversations with another successful stint in 2023 -- whether with Jacksonville or another team.

Cooter, 37, coached Matthew Stafford as the Lions’ QBs coach from 2014-2015 before being promoted to OC the following season. After a three-year stint as the Lions’ play-caller, Cooter coached the Jets’ RBs from 2019-2020 and spent last season on Nick Sirianni’s staff with the Eagles. He’ll work closely with Trevor Lawrence, new coach Doug Pederson, and QBs coach Mike McCoy in Jacksonville.

Cooter spent his previous four years as Detroit’s offensive coordinator. He’s familiar with Adam Gase from their time together as assistants in Denver under head coach John Fox. In addition to Cooter, the Jets also hired Andre Carter as DL coach, Bo Hardegree as an offensive assistant, Joe Vitt as senior assistant/OLBs coach and Blake Williams as a defensive assistant. Dowell Loggains will serve as offensive coordinator, though play-calling duties will likely fall to Gase.