The annual attempts at poaching college coaching staffs continues unabated this afternoon, with a first-time NFL head coach reportedly eyeing a member of the two-time defending BCS champions.
Speculation has been mounting over the past 24 hours that Chip Kelly is targeting Alabama offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland for a spot on his Philadelphia Eagles staff. According to TideSports.com, the interest is indeed serious as the Eagles have offered Stoutland a job, presumably the line job, as part of Kelly’s staffing effort.
Even more to the point, the website reports that Stoutland is expected to take the job. The Tide has declined to discuss the future of Stoutland with the program.
Stoutland has been at Alabama for the past two years, coming to the Tide from Miami. In February of last year, Stoutland reportedly turned down an opportunity to join former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff.
If he were to accept Kelly’s offer, Stoutland would be the second assistant Nick Saban has lost since the end of the regular season. In late December, it was announced that Jeremy Pruitt was leaving as the Tide’s defensive backs coach to become Florida State’s defensive coordinator.