Eagles Notes: Jauron says he's happy with Eagles job

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Dick Jauron has been an NFL defensive coordinator and head coach.

Now, he is a defensive-backs coach with the additional title of senior assistant after being officially hired yesterday by the Eagles.

Jauron said he was just fine with his lesser title.

"I've never felt much different in any of the roles," he said. "Saying that, they're obviously much different roles, but when I was a secondary coach, I really loved it.

"It wasn't like I was holding my breath to be a defensive coordinator. I always said to my wife that if you do a great job at this thing, then whatever happens, happens. But I like doing this."

Jauron, 59, spent nine seasons as a secondary coach in Green Bay and met Eagles coach Andy Reid when they worked together for three seasons with the Packers.

"Mike Holmgren came in at Green Bay, and I was lucky enough to stay on with that staff," Jauron said. "That's where I met Andy, and we stayed in touch over the years.

"I was flattered when Andy called about this job and I couldn't resist taking it. I love working with the secondary and I look forward to learning from Sean [McDermott] and this scheme."

McDermott, 35, is 24 years younger than Jauron and a lot less experienced as a defensive coordinator, but the veteran coach gave no indication that he was looking to replace anyone.

"I love this defensive scheme," he said. "It has been so successful. The pressure with this defense is really interesting, and I'm excited to learn it and learn more about it.

"I spent many years researching the Eagles' defense, but I was never inside it. This was a great opportunity to get inside it."

Jauron said he spent about six hours talking to Reid and McDermott before accepting the job. He has not worked as a secondary coach since leaving Green Bay in 1994.

After that, he was a defensive coordinator in Jacksonville from 1995 to '98 and Detroit from 2004 to '05, and a head coach in Chicago from 1999 to 2003, Detroit in 2005, and Buffalo from 2006 to '09.

The Eagles recently hired Bobby April, the former Bills special-teams coordinator who worked under Jauron.

"He's a high-energy coach with a proven track record," Jauron said. "He makes good decisions on game day. He can be very bold on game day."

Jauron spent the 2009 season coaching Terrell Owens and complimented the work ethic of the former Eagles receiver, who was dismissed from the team by Reid in 2005. So should the Eagles bring back T.O.?

The Eagles' newest assistant immediately asked for assistance from Derek Boyko, the team's media-relations director.

"Next question," Boyko said.

The Eagles also promoted two members of the coaching staff, both former Eagles players, and five members of the personnel department yesterday.

Mike Caldwell is now the assistant linebackers coach after spending the last two seasons as a defensive quality-control coach. Mike Zordich went from being a defensive coaching intern to the defensive quality-control coach.

Ryan Grigson moved from director of college scouting to director of player personnel. Louis Riddick was promoted to director of pro personnel after spending the last two years as assistant director of player personnel.

Anthony Patch moved to assistant director of college scouting after previously working as a West Coast scout. Andy Speyer moved from Midwest regional scout to Southwest regional scout, and Brett Veach was named a pro and college scout after spending the last three seasons as an assistant to the head coach.