Eagles Hire Todd Bowles As Secondary Coach, Juan Castillo To Remain Defensive Coordinator
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Juan Castillo will return as Defensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, and Todd Bowles will be the new secondary coach, a league source confirms to 94 WIP's Howard Eskin. The Eagles and Bowles are still working on specifics of the deal, which are formalities.
Bowles was defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphis last year, and has coached in that capacity for college and NFL teams since 1997.
Castillo's hiring by the Eagles last year was controversial and surprising, as Castillo was previously the team's offensive line coach. Castillo hadn't coached defense since he did so for a high school team in 1989. His first year on the job was uneven, with a rough start and a strong finish.
There were rumors that the Eagles were looking to hire Steve Spagnuolo for Castillo's position, but those died with his decision to take that same position with the New Orleans Saints. Spganuolo was previously an assistant under former Eagles Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson.
If you're looking for positives in the Eagles' retaining of Castillo, you would look to the strong finish the Eagles defense had this year, as well as some continuity the Eagles defense has lacked since the death of Jim Johnson.
So how do you feel about the Bowles hiring and the Eagles retaining Juan Castillo?
UPDATE: The Eagles have officially hired Bowles. Andy Reid will hold a press conference at noon on Tuesday to discuss the hiring.
