Duce however being a former Eagles player has been a candidate for a promotion 3 separate times. First in 2016 when Doug Pederson was hired, again in the 2019 offseason when the Eagles decided a hivemind O.C. was better than one guy instead handing Duce AHC duties instead which seemed like a decent compromise until he was again passed up as the head coach proving his upward mobility within the organization simply doesn't exist. Due to this situation he has asked to be allowed to seek other positions. So the question becomes where could he land?
My first and most likely landing spot is with Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh as the offensive coordinator. Staley once finished his career as a player with the Steelers, the year before Tomlin was hired. The Steelers have always been a run heavy team looking to defeat you by pounding the ball down your throat and Staley is the perfect candidate to carry on that legacy. The former RB, has developed some very talented backs under his watch and working with the talented younger guys he would have with Pittsburgh would just be his latest challenge and a fitting position for him to move on to filling out his resume to help his next interview for a head job.
The second most likely landing spot is with the Chiefs as an Eric Bienemy replacement. While I believe Mike Kafka would be elevated as well to fill the whole perhaps we see a situation where Kafka takes on duties as a passing game coordinator and keeps his qb coach title, while the Chiefs bring in Staley as a RB coach and run game coordinator. Perhaps he even gets his assistant head coach title as well. He got his start as a player and later a coach under Andy Reid. It only makes sense Reid would consider him as a coach after his last 4 prominent understudies were former Eagles players. Doug Pederson, Matt Nagy, and Mike Kafka all suited up as QB'S under Reid, while Bienemy and Staley both played RB under Reid. Assuming Bienemey gets the Texans job which seems likely now, Staley is the most natural replacement as a plug and play coach.
Chicago under former teammate and coach Matt Nagy would be a solid landing spot. Despite 10 seasons coaching RB'S Charles London their RB coach has accepted a position coaching QBs for Atlanta under Arthur Smith. Leaving a vacancy at the position Staley knows best. Also departing is Dave Ragone who served as passing game coordinator last season despite having offensive coordinator Bill Lazor in place who is a former QB coach. Why not have Lazor take over coaching QBs again and split his coordinating duties. Allow Duce to come in and serve as RB coach and run game coordinator while Lazor takes on QBs, and still has final say as offensive coordinator. Seems like a solid situation being that Lazor coached with Staley in Philly in 2013.
Seattle is looking for an offensive coordinator for their run first offense. Although there are no formal connections between Staley and Carroll, the Seahawks have reached out to former head coach Doug Pederson, and were rumored to be interested in Mike Kafka as well. Duce Staley might be a better fit than either of the other men. Staley has been able to coach up several less talented players than those that the Seahawks already have in Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, Carlos Hyde, Deejay Dallas, and Travis Homer. Personally knowing Staley's track record of producing successful backs nearly every year, I think he might be the best fit for Seattle. He would bring a mentality that would take pressure off of Wilson, and allow for a lot more play action, and run pass option type plays creating more one on one match ups outside, and drawing the safeties into the box. Pete Carroll would be smart to call up Staley.
Detroit might be looking for a new RB coach if Dan Campbell wants to bring in his own guys. Staley and Campbell both played similar stretches in the NFL Staley played from 97-06, while Campbell played from 99-09. Campbell's entire career came in the NFC, including his first seven seasons were played in the NFC East with the Giants and Cowboys so I'm willing to bet they know each other well enough that Staley should get some consideration for the RB coach role, perhaps with run game coordinator added. Staley has a few other ins with Detroit, former teammate Hank Fraley was retained as the offensive line coach, and Dave Fipp is expected to be hired away from the Eagles as special teams coordinator. Staley would immediately be blessed with one of the most talented backfield he has ever had with DeAndra Swift, and Kerryon Johnson on board. The fact that Anthony Lynn was hired as offensive coordinator will only make this job more enticing by allowing Staley to have upward mobility within the organization because at some point it's likely Anthony Lynn will seek another head coaching position sooner rather than later.
Last but not least Jacksonville is assembling a rather star studded staff and I believe a lateral move to RB Coach/Assistant Head Coach would be worthwhile for Duce. Urban Meyer is a very well known and respected coach which would give Duce yet another checkmark on his resume that he is working to build toward a head coaching position. Staley helped the Steelers win a super bowl as a player under Bill Cowher, then later developed a run game featuring Jay Ajayi, Lagarrette Blount, and Corey Clement that led to a Super Bowl Victory under Doug Pederson, spent the majority of his career under Andy Reid who has now had one of the most successful coaching trees in the NFL in recent memory. Add to all that being the right hand man to Urban Meyer in his first NFL gig and show success in this role? All of a sudden your name will be hotter than Eric Bienemy in a short time. Staley is still just 45 years old and has just 10 years as a coach under his belt so far so he has time to continue building his resume while learning from a legend.
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