In a move that won’t surprise many, Eagles G.M. Tom Heckert is expected to soon join the Browns in the same role. Per multiple reports, Heckert interviewed for the job earlier this week.
The move, on the surface, is a bit surprising. Since Holmgren has final say in Cleveland, final say can’t be given to Heckert, and thus the Eagles can block the move.
But the Eagles are willing to let Heckert walk. By all appearances, they’d let Heckert leave even before the team’s season ends, assuming the Eagles beat the Cowboys on Saturday night.
Making the stance less curious is the reality that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie recommended Heckert to the Falcons two years ago for the G.M. job.
Last year, Heckert was a candidate to be hired by the Browns for the same position. The thinking was that he’d get the job as part of a package deal including then-Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo as head coach.
Though the Heckert has never been on the hot seat in Philly, there’s a perception that the team has a few too many chefs, given the ascension of Howie Roseman to the position of V.P. of player personnel, which caused many to believe that Roseman is the true No. 2 behind coach Andy Reid. So it makes sense for the Eagles to thin out the front office a bit, which explains why Lurie recommended Heckert to the Falcons in 2008.