Yesterday, Castillo, 51, got the defensive coordinator job. Reid coaxed Howard Mudd, 68, out of retirement to coach the offensive line.
So, this was Castillo's job to lose all along?
"I would tell you yes," Reid said.
Not so accomplished defensive assistant Dick Jauron, who landed with Cleveland as their defensive coordinator. Not Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke and Saints secondary coach Dennis Allen, whom the Eagles interviewed; not Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods, whom they reportedly interviewed Monday. Not attractive Green Bay assistants Mike Trgovac and Winston Moss, who were unavailable to be interviewed until after Sunday, when they will coach in the Super Bowl.
"Obviously, I'm going to make sure that all of the bases are covered," Reid said.
Reid abruptly fired McDermott only 3 days after saying he would not be fired. Yesterday, he explained that his endorsement of McDermott, given the day after the Eagles' upset playoff loss to Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs, was premature.
"It's an emotional time. It's not a time to make a decision like that," Reid acknowledged. "I was able to step back, buy some time, and think."
Reid thought that he could persuade Mudd to rejoin the NFL after a year off. An NFL assistant since 1974, Mudd was the Colts' line coach for 12 years before he quit after the 2009 season. If Mudd would return, then, Reid figured, he could promote Castillo to defensive coordinator.
Reid indicated yesterday that he considered Castillo to replace innovative defensive coordinator Jim Johnson after Johnson died in 2009. After all, Castillo was a linebacker in college and in the USFL. His first two jobs as an assistant, at alma mater Texas A & M-Kingsville and at Kingsville High, were on the defensive side of the ball.
