After an illustrious 13-year career with the Eagles, building one of the top offensive lines in the NFL, legendary Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland is stepping away from the game, the Eagles announced on Wednesday evening.
“The Philadelphia Eagles thank Jeff Stoutland for his legendary contributions to the game of football at the college and professional levels. Stout’s influence throughout football is immense, having helped countless players reach their true potential, including many who went on to earn All-Pro honors and some who developed into future Hall of Fame talents. His passion for the development of young players set the bar not only for our organization but for the entire National Football League. It is hard to fathom another coach investing more personally and professionally in their players than Jeff Stoutland,” the team said in a statement.
“Our organization is deeply grateful for Stout’s contributions to our team over the last 13 seasons. In addition to helping to deliver three Super Bowl trips and two World Championships to the City of Philadelphia, he has been a champion of our community, having given much of his time and effort to the Eagles Autism Foundation and many of our team’s philanthropic initiatives. Although he will not be competing with us on gameday, he will always be a beloved member of the Eagles family. His impact on this franchise and our community is immeasurable, and it’s safe to say he will always be welcome in the City of Brotherly Love.”
Stoutland’s coaching career, which started in 1988 at Southern Connecticut State, is virtually unmatched. He was the longest-tenured Eagles coach, having joined in 2013 as offensive line coach under then-head coach Chip Kelly and then Stoutland added run game coordinator duties in 2018. The Eagles’ offense operated behind one of the best offensive lines in the league during those seasons and, of course, won two Super Bowls LII and LIX with Stoutland in charge of the trenches. Stoutland also helped the Eagles win three NFC Championships and six division titles in his time as offensive line coach.
Stoutland University produced at least one Pro Bowl player in each of his 13 seasons in Philadelphia, and he is the only offensive line coach since the 1970 merger to produce a Pro Bowl player in 13 straight years with the same franchise.
Stoutland University was also a huge part of the Eagles Autism Foundation, bringing in tens of thousands of dollars for the Eagles’ charitable wing.
And, of course, his players revered him for what he meant to them both on and off the field.
Said center Jason Kelce, an All-Pro and Pro Bowl player with the Eagles, in his retirement press conference: “No one has been more influential or meaningful to my success on the field in my career than Stout. I think one of the greatest things a human being can give another is belief. This world, life, it can be hard. It can challenge yourself to points of self doubt and that is a dangerous place to be. Well, I am lucky my whole life I have been surrounded by people that have believed in me – my father, my mother, my brother, Paul Longo, Howard Mudd. And in my darkest hours a Philadelphian, Stout was the one who believed in me.”
Said former All-Pro guard Brandon Brooks of Stoutland: “You took me from being a good player to the best at my position. Even while I was there, you pushed me continuously to strive for more because hungry dogs run faster and always will. Just as you helped me on the field, you helped me off. Through all my struggles and my moments, I could always count on a phone call from you, the topic never being about football but just like and how you could help.”