Reconnecting the Dots: How Did the Eagles Get Here?
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has remained busy this offseason following an early playoff exit. The Eagles have made several notable moves, as both the roster and the coaching staff have been revamped in 2026. Yet there are clear connections between several of the new faces in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Eagles currently have 91 players on the team’s roster. Roseman has added several new players this offseason, yet I’m most intrigued by what helped the new veterans land in Philadelphia. Here’s a look at how long each player has been with the Eagles:
54 players were with the Eagles prior to this offseason
18 new veterans were added after the coaching staff changes
16 players are rookies
3 new players were signed to a reserve/future deal before the coaching staff changes
Prior to the start of free agency, I wrote an article called “Connecting the Dots: 25 Free Agents That Have Ties to the Eagles New-Look Coaching Staff.” While the Eagles only signed just two players from that list, it’s always fun to try and identity the connections between a new player and Philadelphia. It’s clear that Roseman is a well-connected general manager, yet it’s still important to gather intel and use any resources that you can when considering adding a player.
Therefore, I felt it was time to reconnect the dots with the Eagles this offseason. After taking a closer look at Philadelphia’s 18 new veteran additions, I realized that 15 of these players had at least one direct connection to the team’s revamped coaching staff. Here’s a closer look at each player’s connection to the City of Brotherly Love.
Offense
Andy Dalton, QB: Dalton overlapped with Eagles assistant head coach and running backs coach Jemal Singleton with the Bengals in 2019. Dalton was also with the Panthers in 2023 when Eagles quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier was Carolina’s passing game coordinator.
Dameon Pierce, RB: Pierce overlapped with Eagles senior offensive analyst Jerrod Johnson with the Texans from 2023 to 2025 when he was Houston’s quarterbacks coach.
Elijah Mitchell, RB: Mitchell hasn’t worked directly with any of Philadelphia’s current coaches. Although it’s worth noting that the Eagles have added several former 49ers draft picks in recent years and he has experience in the Kyle Shanahan, wide zone running scheme.
Dontayvion Wicks, WR: Wicks overlapped with Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion with the Packers for two seasons. Wicks also worked with Eagles run game coordinator and tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey with the Packers for three seasons with two of those seasons as Wicks’ position coach.
Hollywood Brown, WR: Brown hasn’t worked directly with any of Philadelphia’s current coaches. Brown has said that he has admired Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and almost returned for one more season in college to play with him at Oklahoma. Brown also revealed that he told Chiefs head coach Andy Reid that he grew up an Eagles fan.
Elijah Moore, WR: Moore overlapped with Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino with the Bills last season. Yet the most notable connection is that Eagles senior vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas was the Jets general manager when New York selected Moore in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Samori Toure, WR: Toure overlapped with Eagles run game coordinator and tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey with the Packers for two seasons when Mahaffey was Green Bay’s assistant offensive line coach. Toure was also on the Packers roster in the offseason when Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion started his coaching career in 2024.
Erik Ezukanma, WR: Ezukanma overlapped with Eagles pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard with the Dolphins for two seasons when he was Miami’s offensive quality control coach in 2022 and 2023. Ezukanma was also with Eagles quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier with the Dolphins when Frazier was an offensive assistant in Miami in 2024.
Johnny Mundt, TE: Mundt played with Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion on the Rams in 2017 and 2018. He also overlapped with Eagles offensive line coach Chris Kuper for three seasons when he was Minnesota’s offensive line coach from 2022 to 2024.
Stone Smartt, TE: Smart hasn’t worked directly with any of Philadelphia’s current coaches. Smartt was with the Chargers when former Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was Los Angeles’ offensive coordinator in 2023…but that’s a stretch.
Michael Jordan, OL: Jordan has technically overlapped with four (!) current Eagles coaches that were previously mentioned during his NFL career. Jordan was with Jemal Singleton for two seasons with the Bengals. He was with Ryan Mahaffey for two seasons with the Packers. He was with Sean Mannion for one season with the Packers. Lastly, he was with Josh Grizzard with the Buccaneers last season.
Defense
Jonathan Greenard, EDGE: Greenard overlapped with Eagles linebackers coach Bobby King with the Texans for two seasons from 2020 to 2021. King was Houston’s defensive line coach in 2021. Greenard also overlapped with Eagles offensive line coach Chris Kuper with the Vikings over the last two seasons in Minnesota.
Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE: Ebiketie hasn’t worked directly with any of Philadelphia’s current coaches. Ebiketie did have a 30 visit with the Eagles prior to the 2022 NFL Draft, which has always been a strong indicator of Philadelphia’s interest in draft prospects.
A.J. Epenesa, EDGE: Epenesa overlapped with Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino with the Bills last season.
Riq Woolen, CB: Woolen overlapped with Eagles associate head coach and defensive line coach Clint Hurtt for two seasons with the Seahawks when he was Seattle’s defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023. Woolen also overlapped with Eagles cornerbacks coach Roy Anderson with the Seahawks when he was Seattle’s secondary coach in 2023.
Jonathan Jones, CB: Jones overlapped with Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino with the Patriots when he was New England’s coaching assistant and cornerbacks coach from 2016 to 2024.
Shaun Wade, CB: Wade overlapped with Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino with the Patriots when he was New England’s cornerbacks coach from 2021 to 2023.
J.T. Gray, S: Gray overlapped with Eagles pass game coordinator Josh Grizzard with the Buccaneers when he was Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator last season. Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay also talked about how both him and Gray have played for Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi.