The Green Bay Packers could be on the verge of losing one of their most promising young coaches to a prestigious promotion that would accelerate his career trajectory dramatically. Sean Mannion, who has served as the team's quarterbacks coach for the past two seasons, has emerged as a serious candidate for the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator vacancy. This development marks a rapid ascent for the former NFL quarterback, whose coaching career is still in its infancy but has already garnered significant attention across the league for his innovative approach to quarterback development.
According to a report from CBSSports.com, Mannion is scheduled to participate in his second interview with the Eagles' organization, signaling that he has made a strong impression during the initial stages of their search process. The fact that Philadelphia is bringing him back for another conversation suggests that the 32-year-old assistant has vaulted into contention for one of the most coveted coordinator positions in professional football, despite having just two years of formal coaching experience at the NFL level.
Mannion's journey from player to coach represents a familiar path in the NFL, but his swift rise through the coaching ranks is particularly noteworthy and speaks to his natural aptitude for the profession. After spending nine seasons as a quarterback in the league, including a four-year stint with the Los Angeles Rams from 2015 to 2018, Mannion hung up his cleats and transitioned to the sidelines. His final season as a player proved fortuitous, as it coincided with Matt LaFleur's tenure as the Rams' offensive coordinator, establishing a connection that would later prove pivotal in shaping both of their careers.
When LaFleur learned that his former quarterback was considering an interview with the Chicago Bears for a coaching position, he swiftly intervened with a compelling alternative. Recognizing Mannion's potential and football acumen, the Packers head coach created an offensive assistant role specifically for him, despite having veteran quarterbacks coach Tom Clements already on staff. This forward-thinking move was designed with the future in mind, as LaFleur anticipated that Clements might retire within a few years, leaving a void that Mannion could seamlessly fill while learning from one of the most respected quarterback gurus in the business.
The gamble has paid dividends beyond expectations, exceeding even LaFleur's optimistic projections. In his two seasons working with Green Bay's signal-callers, Mannion has demonstrated a keen ability to develop talent and orchestrate offensive improvements that have caught the attention of front offices across the NFL. The most visible evidence of his impact can be seen in the performance of starter Jordan Love, who rebounded impressively in 2025 after an injury-plagued 2024 campaign that had many questioning his long-term viability as a franchise quarterback. Love's resurgence as a top-tier signal-caller has not gone unnoticed, with many around the league attributing part of his success to Mannion's tutelage and ability to refine his mechanics and decision-making process.
However, it may be the transformation of Malik Willis that has truly captured the attention of other teams and elevated Mannion's profile as a quarterback whisperer. The former Tennessee Titans draft pick arrived in Green Bay as a cast-off, a player whose NFL future appeared uncertain at best after struggling to find his footing in his rookie season. Under Mannion's patient and innovative guidance, Willis evolved into one of the league's most reliable backup quarterbacks, showcasing the dual-threat capabilities that made him an intriguing prospect initially. His development has been so pronounced that Willis now enters unrestricted free agency with legitimate aspirations of securing a starting job elsewhere, a testament to the coaching he received and the confidence Mannion helped restore.
The Philadelphia Eagles' interest in Mannion becomes clearer when examining their current situation and offensive struggles during the previous season. Head coach Nick Sirianni recently demoted Kevin Patullo, who had been calling plays for the offense, creating an opening at the coordinator position that the organization views as critical to maximizing their championship window. The Eagles' search has been extensive and thorough, with the team interviewing a host of candidates including Miami's Frank Smith, Houston's Jerrod Johnson, Tampa Bay's Josh Grizzard, Indianapolis' Jim Bob Cooter, and Kansas City's Matt Nagy. Yet Mannion's name has risen to the forefront of this impressive candidate pool, particularly because of his demonstrated success with mobile quarterbacks like Willis and his ability to modernize an offensive attack.
Philadelphia's franchise quarterback, Jalen Hurts, shares many of the same athletic traits that Willis possesses, suggesting that Mannion's experience could translate directly to maximizing Hurts' potential and unlocking new dimensions of the Eagles' offense. This alignment of skill sets likely makes Mannion an attractive candidate for Sirianni, who may be looking for a coordinator who can bring fresh ideas while understanding how to leverage a quarterback's mobility and arm talent within the structure of a championship-caliber roster. The Eagles' offense features elite weapons at every position, and the thought of Mannion's creative approach combined with this talent has undoubtedly generated excitement within the organization.
From a procedural standpoint, the Packers are powerless to prevent Mannion from pursuing this opportunity, as NFL rules are specifically designed to facilitate career advancement for assistant coaches. League regulations prohibit teams from blocking assistant coaches from interviewing for coordinator positions, recognizing them as promotions that advance careers and ultimately benefit the sport by developing more qualified head coaching candidates. This means Green Bay must prepare for the possibility of losing their young coach, regardless of how valuable he has become to their operation and their plans for continuing Love's development.
The structure of the Eagles' offensive hierarchy could ultimately determine whether Mannion departs from Green Bay or remains with the only NFL team that has given him a coaching opportunity. If Sirianni intends to reclaim play-calling duties, the offensive coordinator role would become more of a collaborative position focused on game planning, player development, and situational football. In such a scenario, LaFleur might be able to craft a counter-offer compelling enough to retain Mannion, potentially by promoting him to a coordinator or assistant head coach title within Green Bay's staff, accompanied by a substantial salary increase that reflects his growing reputation.
Conversely, if Philadelphia offers Mannion full play-calling responsibilities and autonomy to shape the offensive identity, it would represent a challenge that LaFleur simply cannot match regardless of how much he values his young protégé. The opportunity to run an offense for a perennial playoff contender like the Eagles, with a roster ready to compete for championships immediately, would be too significant for any ambitious coach to decline, regardless of loyalty to their current organization or the relationships they have built.
Should Mannion accept the position in Philadelphia, the Packers have internal options to consider for his replacement that would minimize disruption to their quarterback development program. Luke Getsy, currently serving as a senior assistant, previously held the quarterbacks coach role under LaFleur in 2019 before adding passing game coordinator duties in 2020. His familiarity with the system, the players, and LaFleur's expectations would make for a smooth transition, though he left once before to become Chicago's offensive coordinator, suggesting he might have his own aspirations beyond a position coach role that could complicate long-term stability.
Another intriguing possibility involves Nathaniel Hackett, who spent last season working as a consultant and analyst for Green Bay's defense despite his offensive expertise. Hackett's offensive credentials are substantial, having previously served as the Packers' offensive coordinator before departing for head coaching opportunities that included a stint with the Denver Broncos. His return to the offensive side of the ball would bring experience and familiarity with the organization, though it's unclear whether he would be interested in a position coach role after serving as a coordinator and head coach, even if it meant working with a rising star like Love.
The situation also highlights the broader challenge facing successful franchises: retaining top coaching talent in an increasingly competitive environment where innovative assistants are prized commodities. As assistants prove their worth and develop players, they inevitably become targets for other teams seeking to replicate that success and infuse their own organizations with fresh thinking. LaFleur's ability to identify and develop Mannion speaks to his eye for coaching talent, but it also means the Packers must constantly be prepared for turnover within their staff and have succession plans ready to implement.
For Mannion, the decision represents a crossroads in what promises to be a long and potentially distinguished coaching career. At just 32 years old, he has already established himself as a rising star in the profession, with a reputation that belies his limited experience. The Philadelphia job would accelerate his trajectory significantly, placing him in charge of an offense that features elite weapons at every skill position and a quarterback with MVP-caliber potential who is still evolving. The challenge would be substantial, but the rewards could be career-defining and set him on a path toward eventual head coaching consideration.
The coming days will be critical as Mannion completes his second interview and the Eagles move closer to a final decision that could reshape two organizations. Green Bay's front office and coaching staff will be watching closely, knowing that their quarterback room's future hangs in the balance and that their own offensive continuity could be disrupted. Regardless of the outcome, Mannion's emergence as a legitimate coordinator candidate validates LaFleur's decision to bring him aboard and demonstrates that the Packers' coaching tree is producing branches that the rest of the NFL wants to cultivate, even if it means weakening their own staff in the process.