The Eagles haven't made a change at defensive coordinator - at least not yet - but they may need to find a new offensive coordinator.
Marty Mornhinweg will interview with the Oakland Raiders for their head coach vacancy this week, NFL sources said Tuesday.
The Eagles offensive coordinator isn't believed to be a leading candidate in Oakland, but with six names already linked to the job and the opening still unfilled after a week, it could be for the taking.
Mornhinweg could also be in contention for the top Colts job after Jim Caldwell was fired Tuesday. Indianapolis general manager Ryan Grigson, who was hired last week after eight years in the Eagles' personnel department, said that he had a short list of contenders.
"You have people in the back of your mind," Grigson said during a news conference with owner Jim Irsay.
Mornhinweg, obviously, has a Philadelphia connection with Grigson.
Caldwell's firing came as a slight surprise. Just a day earlier he was part of the interview with Steve Spagnuolo for the Colts' defensive coordinator position. Spagnuolo may have turned down Indianapolis' offer, and that, in turn, led to Caldwell's ouster.
Perhaps Grigson and Irsay never intended for Caldwell to pick the next defensive coordinator, or maybe they were vetting Spagnuolo for head coach consideration. However, the former Rams coach, who was fired after a 10-38 mark in three seasons, likely won't get another shot at a top job that quickly.
Spagnuolo, though, is still a hot commodity as a defensive coordinator. Conventional wisdom says the Eagles must be interested in bringing back their former assistant, but there has been no indication that coach Andy Reid wants to replace beleaguered defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.
If the Eagles are after Spagnuolo, they have competition. He also is scheduled to interview with New Orleans on Wednesday. Atlanta dropped out of the sweepstakes when it hired Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator on Tuesday.
Spagnuolo could have other options, perhaps back with the New York Giants, if defensive coordinator Perry Fewell leaves to become a head coach. New York and New Orleans would appear to be more attractive destinations with head coaches on more solid ground and quarterbacks with Super Bowl rings.
If Reid wants Spagnuolo, he'll have to make some other decisions aside from what to do with Castillo. Will he be able to keep defensive line coach Jim Washburn, whose wide-nine scheme up front may not mesh with Spagnuolo's blitz-happy defense?
If Mornhinweg leaves, Reid will have more to worry about than the defensive side of the ball. Brad Childress, the former Vikings head coach and Eagles offensive coordinator, still is unemployed and would be an obvious choice as a replacement.
Mornhinweg hasn't been in serious contention for a head job since he was fired by the Lions in 2002 after a disastrous two seasons in Detroit. Reid touted the 49-year-old's credentials for getting another shot during the 2010 season, but he never drew any interest. Michael Vick's regression this season and the overall state of the Eagles appeared to have eliminated Mornhinweg again this offseason.
But he has strong ties to the Bay Area, having been raised near San Jose and having coached with the San Francisco 49ers. He also has a relationship with Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie. They worked together in Green Bay when McKenzie was director of football operations and Mornhinweg was quarterbacks coach.
The Raiders have already interviewed Dolphins interim head coach Todd Bowles. They are expected to also meet with Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, and Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.
Many have already cited Green Bay assistant head coach Winston Moss as the person most likely to land in Oakland. Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers also is believed to be in the mix.
Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745, jmclane@phillynews.com, or @Jeff_McLane on Twitter.
