According to NFL Insider Adam Caplan on his podcast Inside Birds, the Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to promote Matt Burke from defensive special assistant to defensive line coach.
Burke has served in the NFL for 15 years, and was a defensive coordinator for two seasons under Adam Gase for the Miami Dolphins. Burke is a Dartmouth graduate and a Hudson, Massachusetts native, and he has given back to society by doing charity work in Uganda. Below is Burke's full coaching resume spanning over 20 years:
•Brighton Academy Assistant Coach (1998-1999)
•Boston College Graduate Assistant (2000-2002)
•Harvard Assistant Coach (2003)
•Tennessee Titans Administrative Assistant (2004-2005)
•Tennessee Titans Defensive Quality Control Coach (2006-2008)
•Detroit Lions Linebackers Coach (2009-2013)
•Cincinnati Bengals Linebackers Coach (2014-2015)
•Miami Dolphins Linebackers Coach (2016)
•Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator (2017-2018)
•Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Special Assistant (2019)
During his fifteen years in the NFL, Burke has served under Jeff Fisher, Jim Schwartz, Marvin Lewis, Adam Gase, and now Doug Pederson. When the Eagles were searching for a new defensive line coach, they didn't have to go far by promoting Matt Burke. Even though he has never worked directly as a defensive line coach before, I do like this hire because Burke has extensive experience coaching all over the defense. I can see the defensive line bouncing back next season when they get back to full strength with a healthy Malik Jackson next to Fletcher Cox.
My honest opinion of this hire is that Jim Schwartz made this move because of his connections to Burke from their days at the Titans together. Even though it isn't a flashy hire, I still think Burke will be a positive influence and bring more success to the defensive line in 2020.
