Eagles-DeFilippo Reunion Not in the Cards ‘At This Time’

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — John DeFilippo was scapegoated in Minnesota on Tuesday and Doug Pederson was asked about bringing back his former quarterbacks coach 24 hours later.

"I was anticipating this question, but listen, what I’ll say is John did a great job for me," Pederson said before practice on Wednesday. "He helped us win a world championship and then he had an opportunity. I love my coaches. I’m confident in the guys we have. So at this time, no."

DeFilippo himself has head-coaching aspirations and may not want to step back to a lesser role in Philadelphia as well because at this stage of the season any coaching addition would be in more an advisory or consultancy role.

Mike Groh, who was the Eagles' receivers coach last season, was elevated after DeFilippo went to the Vikings to call plays and Frank Reich ultimately got the big chair in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Press Taylor was elevated to QBs coach in place of DeFilippo and Carson Wentz seems to have suffered a bit of a regression this season when it comes to mechanics and decision-making.

What Pederson did not rule out was an eventual reunion but that is a two-way street and the DeFilippo camp is likely thinking there may still be interest in the 40-year-old highly-regarded offensive mind as a head-coaching candidate.

If that proves to be pie-in-the-sky thinking there is a chance that DeFillippo, a Radnor High School product, could return to Philadelphia in the offseason.

The issue, however, is the same limitations that moved DeFilippo in the first place are still present because Pederson is the play-caller.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen