During the will-he-or-won’t-he delay in the hiring of coach Chip Kelly, the Eagles apparently moved on with business.
According to a report in the San Antonio Express-News, (via PhillyMag.com), the Eagles offered the job to Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin.
Sumlin himself said he had interest from the NFL, but didn’t name teams. But the report said the Eagles and Auburn offered Sumlin their head coaching job.
“I don’t have to say anything,” Sumlin said in response to NFL rumors. “Everybody knows what I do (now). I’ve never coached in the NFL. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to do that, both as an assistant coach and even as a head coach. But there’s a reason I coach college football, and we’ve got a lot of work to do here.”
Sumlin’s name has percolated around league circles in recent years, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he eventually takes an NFL job.
And at the time the Eagles would have talked to him, Kelly hadn’t yet circled back to take the job, and their interest in other college coaches was real.
He got a raise from the Aggies out of the deal, and the next time he negotiates, it doesn’t hurt him at all if the perception exists that others might like to give him one too.