The Philadelphia Eagles’ disappointing finish to the 2023 season left fans, media, and team personnel surprised and frustrated, as the team dropped six of its final seven games, culminating in a blowout Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, amidst the disappointment, one aspect of the Eagles’ performance stood out: the consistent improvement of their special teams unit.
In recognition of this improvement, the Eagles have extended the contract of special teams coordinator Michael Clay, as first reported by NFL Network. This decision comes after years of lackluster special teams play, with the unit ranking 31st in 2022 due to issues like poor tackling and punting. However, in 2023, the special teams showed significant improvement, ranking among the top 10 in the NFL. Standout performances from kicker Jake Elliott, who boasted a 90 percent success rate on field goals, and returner Britain Covey, who ranked second in average yards per punt return and led the league in total punt return yards with 417, contributed to the unit’s success.
Head coach Nick Sirianni commended the team’s improvement in special teams following the 2022 season, giving credit to Coach Clay and the players for their dedication and hard work. With Clay’s extension, he remains the only coordinator from the previous season to return to Philadelphia, amidst a coaching shakeup that saw the departure of offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, as well as defensive coordinators Matt Patricia and Sean Desai. Their replacements, Vic Fangio and Kellen Moore, will now join Clay with contracts extending beyond the 2024 season.
