Gus Bradley coming to Philadelphia for 2nd interview; what happens next?

By ZACH BERMAN

The Eagles will fly Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to Philadelphia for a second interview on Tuesday. The location is important to note. A second interview is already an indication that the Eagles are serious in him. But at this point the process, the coach sometimes bring his wife or family so they can see the prospective area. The coach can tour the facilities and get to meet people with the team that go beyond the three people conducting the interview.

And if all goes well, a negotiation can begin. These topics were discussed from those around the NFL during the reporting process of Monday's Inquirer story on coaching interviews.

"I think a lot of times the family will be a big part of the decision," said Andrew Brandt, a former executive with the Packers and consultant with the Eagles. "There are people involved in every team who will take the wife around, or meet with the family and talk about schools. Other coaches' wives that are remaining would be enlisted to recruit. Usually, there tends to be someone on staff that the incoming potential hire knows, or the family knows, because it's a very small world. That's a big part of it. And especially with a family concerns about homes and schools."

Charley Casserly, a former general manager with two teams, said decision-makers develop conviction on a candidate that makes them want to halt the interview process and begin working to hire the coach. Unless it's an in-demand coach, this will be the first time that the structure of the contract is discussed. The negotiations will often be conducted with the coach's agent, Casserly said.

Brandt worked on coach contracts in Green Bay and thought it would be helpful to bring in an outside counsel because he needed to work with the new coach in the future. There are issues besides money, too, but they needed to be sorted out or else they can linger.

"When you go in, everybody's smiling and happy," Brandt said. "But doing the contract can be difficult in terms responsibilities, bonuses, length, number of years. And that's going to be a function of leverage. A rising coach through the ranks is not going to be in position to demand much in terms of responsibility and other things about years and length and term and offset, whereas an established coach may, and especially a coach with multiple options."

Casserly said if the team wants the coach -- and other teams want the coach -- they'll do everything to ensure that coach doesn't leave without a deal. And if the coach does, the team might need to move on.

"You make the offer, and we're going to settle this now, because if you leave, I'm going to the next guy," Casserly said. "There's competition."

In Bradley's case, the Chargers and Jaguars are also reportedly interested. But it's the Eagles who have the second interview, and if it continues going well, it could be the last interview for both sides.