National Football League

Source: Eagles fire defensive coordinator

Published Jan. 15, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has been fired, a team source confirmed Saturday.

McDermott took over the defense in spring 2009 for the late Jim Johnson. The team has not named his replacement.

Defensive backs coach Dick Jauron, whom many pointed to as a possible replacement when McDermott came under fire several weeks ago, is expected to interview for the Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator job next week.

On Monday, Eagles head coach Andy Reid indicated McDermott would be back next season.

“Well I would tell you you’re dealing with a guy that’s a tremendous worker and is a very smart individual,” Reid said about McDermott. “And so I look at it a little bit different than what you do in that I’ve seen him work with young guys, I’ve seen him work through injuries, I’ve seen him stay positive through those situations and still put us in a position to win football games and knowing that he’s going to do nothing but improve as a coach, just like all of us, with experience. And so, I have a lot of respect for him and the way that he does business.”

When asked if McDermott would be back next year, Reid said, “Yeah.”

McDermott had come under fire for the team’s poor red-zone defense this season. The defense allowed a whopping 36 touchdowns out of 46 chances (78.3 percent) inside the 20-yard line this season. That’s the worst in the NFL over the past 20 years.