Losing John DeFilippo feels inevitable to Eagles QB

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If Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo needs a list of references to go along with his resume, Nick Foles and Carson Wentz would be happy to give their endorsements.

DeFilippo is among the trendiest head-coaching candidates on the market, with the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears reportedly requesting interviews so far. That's two of the six NFL teams in need of a new coach, and one — the Oakland Raiders — seems completely absorbed in trying to land Jon Gruden.

Given his work with Eagles quarterbacks and the development of Wentz in particular, DeFilippo's departure may be inevitable. At least, Foles seems to think so.

"He grinds," Foles said after practice Wednesday. "He puts us through some stuff, which is awesome.

"He's a great coach. I know he's focused on us right now, but I also know he's going to be a great head coach someday, and I'm excited for his opportunity."

It's no surprise DeFilippo is a commodity. Last offseason, the Eagles actually denied the Jets permission to interview the 39-year-old assistant for their offensive coordinator opening. DeFilippo was also on a list of a dozen assistants recommended by the league as candidates for head jobs back in December.

Then there's his work with Wentz. The Eagles signal-caller remains a popular choice to be named MVP despite missing the final three games of the season with a torn ACL. Wentz threw for 3,296 yards and a franchise-record 33 touchdowns with only seven interceptions.

After earning the top playoff seed in the NFC, the Eagles have a bye this week, creating a window for teams to interview their assistants. Despite the prospect of a promotion elsewhere, Foles says DeFilippo remains committed to the task at hand.

"He has a lot of great things on the horizon," Foles said. "He knows that, but he knows the most important thing right now is the current and present time."

Wentz was unavailable for comment but has taken opportunities to laud DeFilippo's approach in the past.

"He's just really detailed," Wentz said in November. "He's systematic with his thought process for some of the things that we put in and install.

"We kind of dot every 'i,' cross every 't' together."

The endorsements can't hurt, and it's clear that DeFilippo's methods with his QBs are well-received.

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