Former Eagles QB Jeff Garcia looking for a coaching gig

By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor

As he expected, Jeff Garcia's playful interest in becoming the San Francisco 49ers head coach hasn't amounted to much. However, the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback says that he is looking for his first coaching job in the league. 

Appearing on the 97.5 the Fanatic midday show with Rob Ellis and Harry Mayes, Garcia said that his agent is currently working to get him a coaching job in the NFL:

"I'm currently seeking a coaching opportunity. I'm working with an agent, who is actually a Philadelphia guy himself, so hey, gotta keep it close to the family right there."

Garcia, who was mainly on the show to discuss his relationship with his former teammate Terrell Owens, sold himself well in the limited time that he was given to market himself as a potential coach: 

"It's such a relationship based business. I mean it's really about who you know, and who is going to crack that door open for you. But hey, there aren't many guys that bring the experience that I have. First of all, as a football player on the field, as a leader on the offense, as a leader of a team. And then secondly, the way I had to go about it. Hey, I grew up with a dad who was a coach, I've been around the game since I was born. Mentally, I get it. Physically, I worked for it. Nothing was handed to me, I battled my ass off, and that's how I approach every single day in life." 

The 46-year-old was on an NFL roster for parts of 11 seasons, with the aforementioned 49ers, twice with the Eagles, the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While his time in San Francisco was well chronicled, Garcia won over Eagles fans in 2006 when he stepped in for an injured Donovan McNabb and threw 10 touchdown and two interceptions in parts of eight games, which was enough to lead the Eagles to the playoffs. Once in the playoffs, the Eagles defeated the division rival New York Giants in the NFC Wild Card round, before falling to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints 27-24 a week later. 

While the Eagles blocked current quarterbacks coach John DeFilipo from interviewing for New York Jets offensive coordinator position, they likely did that in case current offensive coordinator Frank Reich were to get a head coaching position, which didn't seem entirely impossible given that he interviewed for the Buffalo Bills job. The Bills have instead elected to go with former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott for the job, so it seems likely that both DeFilipo and Reich will stay put. Perhaps the Eagles would be willing to bring Garcia on as a quality control coach, though it's fair to wonder if he would have any interest in such a position. Perhaps another quarterbacks coach position will open up around the league, giving Garcia his first shot at coaching. 

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