Sean Mannion Trying to Run Eagles' Offense Similar to Two Current NFL HC Legends

As the Philadelphia Eagles get prepared for their first game of the regular season, as they will be taking on the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia, the focus is going to continue to be on the offensive side of the football. 

Even if the Eagles come out and score 50-plus points, fans will still be watching closely over the next couple of months, because that's the biggest question that needs to be answered this season.

For Philadelphia, there's a lot to like about some of the decisions it made during the offseason. Moving on from Kevin Patullo seemed to be an obvious one, but bringing in Sean Mannion was something that wasn't a guarantee. Mannion, a young offensive mind, seems like the right guy for the offense, but only time will tell whether it leads to wins and an above-average system. 

While none of that is guaranteed, it sounds like he at least has the right ideas, as he's trying to build something like what Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay have.

“The 2026 season is a challenge, nonetheless. Compile Hurts’ notes and the lists take form: The greatest schematic challenge of his career. He is not merely playing for his seventh play-caller in seven seasons. The Philadelphia Eagles drastically overhauled their playbook after their offense degenerated in 2025, and the technical and philosophical changes Hurts must master demand a departure from the comfort zones of past systems.

“Kevin Patullo’s firing after one year as offensive coordinator headlined the offense’s mismanagement. But a run game that devolved from first-rate to feckless exposed fundamental issues. Coach Nick Sirianni hired another first-time play-caller, Sean Mannion, to build a brand new system with principles championed by Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. The Eagles emphasized this reconstruction when they parted ways with longtime offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland,” Brooks Kubena of The Athletic wrote.

If Philadelphia's offense looks anything like what Shanahan and McVay can do, it will be in a very good spot. 

Of course, there are other reasons it might not, since certain players in each system are very different, but Philadelphia has a lot of talent on that side of the ball, and there really shouldn't be any reason it doesn't have one of the best offenses in the NFL.