The Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff is facing yet another remarkable departure. Nick Rallis, their linebackers coach, will become the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals under new head coach Jonathan Gannon, as reported by ESPN on Sunday.
At just 29 years old, Rallis has spent the past two seasons working alongside Gannon, who was recently appointed as the Cardinals’ head coach.
Before his time with the Eagles, Rallis was with the Minnesota Vikings for three seasons, initially serving as defensive quality control before moving to assistant linebackers coach in 2020.
Last season, the Cardinals struggled defensively, ranking second-worst in points allowed per game and showing weaknesses in several key areas, including third-down defense (28th), red zone defense (29th), and goal-to-go defense (31st). They also finished 21st in total yards allowed per game and 22nd in yards per play.
Maxx Williams, a tight end for the Cardinals and Rallis’s college teammate, expressed his excitement on social media: “So pumped to see this!!!”