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Eagles promote Castillo to be DC

The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles

131 comments

Eagles promote Castillo to be DC

POSTED: Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 4:27 PM

Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer

In a stunning move, the Eagles have named offensive line coach Juan Castillo to be the team's next defensive coordinator, a league source told The Inquirer.

Howard Mudd, considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the game, will replace Castillo.

The team later made the moves official.

Castillo has been the Eagles' offensive line coach for more than 15 years. He was, however, once a linebackers in the USFL. The Eagles are known for promoting within, but the move is a shocker and will be questioned by many.

Castillo replaces Sean McDermott, who was fired almost three weeks ago after two seasons at the helm. McDermott worked his way up through the organization and was a defensive coach for over a decade.

The 51-year-old Castillo has been an Eagles offensive assistant since 1995 when he was a part of Ray Rhodes' staff. He became the team's tight ends coach two season later and then offensive line coach a year later.

Castillo was one of the few leftovers from the Rhodes regime that new head coach Andy Reid kept on staff when he was hired in 1999. Castillo has long been hailed as one of the best line coaches in the league although that unit has struggled in the last two seasons.

He does have some experience as a defensive coach. He was the defensive line/linebackers coach at Texas A&M-University Kingsville in the early 1980s and then the defensive coordinator at Kingsville High School in the late 1980s. In between, he was a linebacker in the USFL.

131 comments

Comments (131)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:43 PM, 02/02/2011

They probably interviewed the defensive backs coaches Hoke and Wood to replace Castillo as the new offensive line coach. Gotta love this team!

— MikeAce369

1 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:44 PM, 02/02/2011

Chinese Fire Drill at the NovaCare Center.

— Drew777

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:35 PM, 02/02/2011

Serious insult to Chinese Fireman everywhere

— keepitreal1234

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:44 PM, 02/02/2011

Really? I'm done. Go Phils. Forget the Eagles.

— donde

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:44 PM, 02/02/2011

Huh? Yeah, it makes perfect sense, given the stellar year the offensive line had. I had wondered if they guys being named from the Packers were being considered as defensive backs coaches or linebacker coaches, not coordinators. He better be good, because this isn't going to sit well with fans.

— armchairGM

Comment removed.

0 like this / 1 don't • Posted 4:44 PM, 02/02/2011

has zero to do with money you idiots... horrible move though

— fman727

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:45 PM, 02/02/2011

Are you f-in kidding me? This is the DUMBEST move I have ever seen. I am so glad I gave up my tickets.

— hmpeterson

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:45 PM, 02/02/2011

I would have taken the job

— Hunter S. T

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:46 PM, 02/02/2011

I give the Eagles a bump, bump, bump for this move.

— Spider Rico

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:47 PM, 02/02/2011

They hired their offensive line coach as defensive coordinator. Is this a joke? Not even somebody currently coaching defense. This reaches a Rich Kotite-level of ineptitude. Speaking of Rich Kotite, why wasn't he considered?

— p-diddy

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:47 PM, 02/02/2011

You gotta be kidding me!
PLEASE SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE!
We were all expecting a stud assistant from GB or PITT and we get this. Why did they take so long just to promote Castillo. ADIOS Superbowl we EAGLE fans are doomed for mediocrity with this organization.

— cesar20