Eagles hire Musgrave as quarterbacks coach

MOBILE, Ala. - The Eagles have hired Bill Musgrave, who had a previous stint with the team, to be their quarterbacks coach, according to NFL sources.

Musgrave, 46, was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings from 2011-13. When head coach Leslie Frazier was fired earlier this month after Minnesota's 5-10-1 season, all of his staff was let go, too.

Musgrave replaces Bill Lazor, who left the Eagles to take the Dolphins' offensive coordinator position last week. Musgrave met with Eagles coach Chip Kelly this week during Senior Bowl practices. The two have known each other for some time. Musgrave was a quarterback at Oregon two decades before Kelly became the Ducks' head coach.

He played six seasons as a backup quarterback with the Cowboys, 49ers, and Broncos. One of his first NFL coaching jobs was as an offensive assistant with the Eagles in 1998. He took over play-calling responsibilities at midseason after coach Ray Rhodes demoted offensive coordinator Dana Bible.

Musgrave was fired along with Rhodes after the season. He joined the Carolina Panthers and became their offensive coordinator in 2000 before being fired. He then held various jobs - University of Virginia, the Jaguars, and the Redskins - before finding a home in Atlanta for five seasons.

When Mike Smith was named the Falcons' head coach in 2008 he retained Musgrave as quarterbacks coach. Smith credited him with helping to develop quarterback Matt Ryan, who was drafted that year.

"Bill is a very intelligent coach," said Smith, who has been coaching the North squad at the Senior Bowl this week. "Played quarterback in the NFL, was a backup quarterback. Sometimes those backup quarterbacks end up being really good coaches because they've stood on the sideline. And Bill did a very good job with Matt his first three years."

Musgrave was picked for the job with Eagles starting quarterback Nick Foles in mind, according to league sources. He has a calm demeanor, according to some of his acquaintances.

Lazor was credited with helping to develop Foles during his record-setting second season, but the two occasionally butted heads over the coach's intensity, according to a source familiar with the relationship.

Musgrave will also work closely with reserve Matt Barkley. Kelly was likely impressed by his play-calling and the performance of quarterback Matt Cassel when the Vikings trounced the Eagles, 48-30, in December.

The Eagles did not confirm the hiring on Tuesday because contract details were still being finalized, according to a source.