Jeff Garcia and Nick Foles, two quarterbacks that led the Eagles on playoff runs after beginning the season on the bench, now find themselves together in St. Louis under a coach that preceded them in Philly by 15 years.
The Rams added Garcia to their coaching staff on Tuesday, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and he will presumably work with Foles, who the Rams acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for Sam Bradford and a second-round pick.
Garcia and Foles have the two highest career passer ratings in Eagles history and both enjoyed tremendous popularity during an improbable playoff run before their Eagles careers abruptly ended.
Garcia went 5-1 in six late-season starts in 2006 after Donovan McNabb suffered a season-ending knee injury, and he beat the Giants in a wild-card playoff game. Garcia is the only quarterback other than McNabb to win a playoff game in an Eagles uniform since Rodney Peete in 1995.
Foles went 8-2 in relief of an injured Michael Vick in 2013 and left the field with the lead in a wild-card game over the Saints, although New Orleans came back to win. He was 6-2 as a starter last year before suffering a season-ending injury of his own.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher played under Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan before starting his NFL coaching career with the Eagles in 1986 as secondary coach. He served as Ryan's defensive coordinator from 1988 through 1990 but left the organization when Rich Kotite was named head coach over him after the 1990 season. Fisher’s now beginning his fourth year as Rams head coach after 17 years with the Oilers and Titans.
The Rams had an opening for a quarterbacks coach this offseason after QB coach Frank Cignetti was promoted to offensive coordinator, replacing Brian Schottenheimer, who left for a job at Georgia.
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Fisher interviewed Garcia, Steve Walsh and Chris Weinke, and although he hired Weinke, he was so impressed with Garcia that he created this new position for him.
“It was almost as if he was getting ready to go out and play a game,” Fisher said of Garcia at the combine in February, according to a story by CSNBayArea’s Matt Maiocco.
“He’s just that guy. He’s so competitive. Throughout his career, people said he couldn’t do what he did. He takes great care of himself. He’s passionate about the game. He loves the game. His dad was a coach. It’s in him.
“He understands the system, the West Coast system and how it’s morphed. He’s familiar with it. He understands how difficult it is to see. Back there, taking snaps, it’s hard to see. But he also understands the game and preparation and loves competing.”
Weinke will be Foles’ fourth quarterbacks coach in four NFL seasons, following Doug Pederson in 2012, Bill Lazor in 2013 and Bill Musgrave in 2014. Musgrave’s replacement, Ryan Day, actually served as Foles’ position coach from mid-January until Foles was traded in mid-March.
Where Garcia fits in with the Rams remains to be seen, but Garcia has been very public for years about his desire to be an NFL coach.
Since he retired from the NFL after the 2011 season, Garcia has served as a personal coach to several NFL quarterbacks, including Mark Sanchez, and has also coached in the CFL.
Garcia went to four Pro Bowls in his 11-year NFL career, three with the 49ers and one with the Buccaneers.