Eagles to hire Bowles; Castillo remains DC
The Eagles are set to hire former Miami interim head coach Todd Bowles to be their defensive backs coach and Juan Castillo will remain defensive coordinator, an NFL source told The Inquirer on Monday.
Eagles to hire Bowles; Castillo remains DC
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles are set to hire former Miami interim head coach Todd Bowles to be their defensive backs coach and Juan Castillo will remain defensive coordinator, an NFL source told The Inquirer on Monday.
The team will meet with Bowles, who remained under contract with the Dolphins until only recently, today and it is expected that he will accept the job. He will be in charge of the entire secondary so safeties coach Mike Zordich will be under Bowles.
The announcement will come later today and Eagles coach Andy Reid will meet with the media on Tuesday.
The Eagles had a vacancy after Johnnie Lynn was fired earlier this month.
The decision to keep Castillo as defensive coordinator ends weeks of uncertainty over his future. Reid obviously decided that the final four games of the season in which the defense showed improvement was enough to keep Castillo in charge of the unit.
There have been reports, since confirmed to The Inquirer, that the Eagles had shown interest in bringing former assistant Steve Spagnuolo back to run the defense. But Spagnuolo chose to take the defensive coordinator job with New Orleans.
Castillo, in Mobile, Ala. last week to scout the Senior Bowl, declined to comment on his status.
"You got to go through Andy,” Castillo said, deferring Reid. "I'm just working."
The 48-year-old Bowles has vast experience as a defensive backs coach in the NFL. He had been Miami's secondary coach since 2005. He was also assistant head coach from 2008-11. Before Miami he worked in Dallas, Cleveland and in New York with the Jets. He has never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL, but held that role at Grambling State in the late 1990s.
Bowles had a hand in developing Miami safety Yeremiah Bell, who represented the AFC in the 2010 Pro Bowl. In his three years in Dallas, three Cowboys defensive backs were chosen to a combined five Pro Bowls, including three by safety Roy Williams. In 2007, three-fourths of Dallas’ backfield cornerback -- cornerback Terence Newman, safety Ken Hamlin and Williams -- was selected to the NFC All-Star squad.
Bowles is a Temple graduate. He played eight seasons in the NFL with the Redskins and 49ers from 1986-93.
Bowles' days in Miami were up when the Dolphins hired Joe Philbin to be their next coach and it was decided that he would not be retained. Bowles had interviewed for that opening along with the Oakland Raiders head coaching job.
The Raiders, who had also interviewed Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, hired Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen instead.
Why is it necessary to attack the man's weight or personally attack him because you disagree with whatever it is you disagree with? Some disgraceful folks, man.
The Todd Bowles move is a good hire. Excellent secondary coach with experience in running a defense. Can help with back 7 alignment. It's a good, smart move.— Phila Phans- now we just need to find safeties worthy of cashing an NFL paycheck. — coloradoeagle
They are already here. Zordich had two years to teach them. That's why Bowles is coming.
— CCRichards- Castillo moves to hot list of Head Coach candidates after Eagles win Super Bowl next year!— yoadrian
- And then, you suddenly awoke to the sound of birds chirping...your wife downstairs cooking breakfast, the smell of brewing coffee in the air. You marveled at the dream you had. Drenched in sweat, you wished, "If only there some way to make dreams come true..." — essell
- 7-9 in 2012. Reid era comes to an end. Gold standand to pig iron standard. Eagles become national laughing stock. Banner says we won as many games as fill-in-the blank did in last 5 years. Laurie announce he is "really mad" at team's performance. Hires Catholic League champion's coach as replacement for Reid and predicts multiple super bowls in next few years. Lemmings still buy new gear every year. Nothing changes.— jimmymack
- You forgot to add? "Reid move upstairs to front office to devote full-time to second part of previous dual responsibilities as Head Coach/Executive Vice-President of Football Operations." Where he, no doubt, will continue to meddle in the affairs of ...well, football operations. We can then proceed to kiss any hope of a Super Bowl goodbye as Reid will continue his faultless practice of selecting 5-11, 235lb players for the all-smurf dream team. — essell
- Castillo's defense ranked 8th in the NFL. His defense was fine. Besides as the Pats and Giants showed defense isn't all that important. You need less turnovers on offense. That is how the 49ERS LOSt by turnovers. Less turnovers on offense and we are well in the playoffs. Get your facts straight nukkas— tremo12
- What's the big surprise about this "big" news? Nice that they'll have Bowles in the wings if Castillo screws up yet again. Nevertheless, he'll be a great DB coach :-)— petergou
- Andy is too loyal to players and coaches that are not up to par and this has been a major weakness on the Eagles for years. Late round picks who are average players at best get starting positions on the D and coaches with good personalities who work hard (but not smart) are rewarded with positions they did not deserve or have the experience for. This is the NFL and not high school or some division 2 football program. Andy might be sealing his own departure after this season if the Eagles do not make it deep into the playoffs!— connorjr
- We can argue whether or not Castillo shouldve been appointed defensive coordinator last offseason, and i agree that was a questionable move (even worse move was hiring washburn before a dc, thus preventing themselves from hiring a dc with credentials LAST year, but i digress). but this is the right move, keeping castillo in place. he deserves more than 4 weeks to grow into the role, and since the defense performed well in the last several games of the season, his status was locked in for next season. and for those that take the position that the eagles really didn't play anyone in the final weeks, i will rebut by saying that the defensive looked horrendous earlier in the season against equally futile competition, which to me suggests improvement later in the year. They will be FINE with Castillo, the real problem on this team is lack of personnel on defense. So until talent is upgraded significantly, it doesn’t matter who coaches the defense.— CosmoK
- it is possible no one wanted the DC job because allthough not actually stated by the owner reid is on shaky ground. I guess fools gold was gold enough.— joed12
- Arrogant Andy cannot admit he makes mistakes so JC will be DC...Bowles is jsut happy to have a job....and Spags did not want to be part of an organization run by an accountant and a mail boy....and with out linebackers and safties that can acutally play at this level it does not matter who the coach is.....Thanks Jeffery....You and your organization are "Completely Unacceptable"— nuggett
- I'm just sad. We've got to watch the Giants play in the big game AGAIN! And all we get to look forward to is another failed season from horrible Castillo and Fat Andy. And yes, Andy is fat!— king_of_lincolnfield
