Throughout Brian Johnson’s formative football life, he’s always been a step ahead of the curve - both as a player and a coach. Now, in his first season as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, things don’t seem to be coming to him quite as quickly. But has all the criticism directed at him this year been fair, or is he just an easy scapegoat? With the 2023 season entering the home stretch, and the Eagles looming as a Super Bowl favorite, Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat reporter Jeff McLane evaluates Brian Johnson’s debut season as an NFL offensive coordinator, and examines the high stakes surrounding his influence on the team’s success.

unCovering the Birdsis a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. New episodes drop every three weeks during the 2023 season.

Host: Jeff McLane
Executive Producer, Philadelphia Inquirer: Renee Ifill
Director of Podcasting, KYW Newsradio: Tom Rickert
Producer: Brian Seltzer

Throughout Brian Johnson’s formative football life, he’s always been a step ahead of the curve - both as a player and a coach. Now, in his first season as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, things don’t seem to be coming to him quite as quickly. But has all the criticism directed at him this year been fair, or is he just an easy scapegoat? With the 2023 season entering the home stretch, and the Eagles looming as a Super Bowl favorite, Philadelphia Inquirer Eagles beat reporter <a href="http://twitter.com/jeff_mclane">Jeff McLane</a> evaluates Brian Johnson’s debut season as an NFL offensive coordinator, and examines the high stakes surrounding his influence on the team’s success.
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/uncovering-the-birds-with-jeff-mclane">unCovering the Birds</a> is a production of <a href="philly.com">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a> and <a href="kywnewsradio.com">KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts</a>. New episodes drop every three weeks during the 2023 season.
Host: Jeff McLane Executive Producer, Philadelphia Inquirer: Renee Ifill Director of Podcasting, KYW Newsradio: Tom Rickert Producer: Brian Seltzer

Hosted by Jeff McLane, unCovering the Birds brings you stories you might not have heard about the football team that makes you bleed green. McLane has spent the last decade and a half breaking news, digging up scoops, and delivering readers of The Philadelphia Inquirer award-winning Philadelphia Eagles coverage. On unCovering the Birds, he’ll take you behind the scenes and into the world of the Birds beat with exclusive access and insider perspective.

unCovering the Birds is presented by Wawa. The podcast is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts.

You can listen to unCovering the Birds on the Audacy app, Inquirer.com/podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Jeff McLane on Twitter, and read more of his work at inquirer.com/author/mclane_jeff/.

Hosted by Jeff McLane, unCovering the Birds brings you stories you might not have heard about the football team that makes you bleed green. McLane has spent the last decade and a half breaking news, digging up scoops, and delivering readers of The Philadelphia Inquirer award-winning Philadelphia Eagles coverage. On unCovering the Birds, he’ll take you behind the scenes and into the world of the Birds beat with exclusive access and insider perspective.
unCovering the Birds is presented by Wawa. The podcast is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts.
You can listen to unCovering the Birds on the Audacy app, Inquirer.com/podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Jeff McLane on Twitter, and read more of his work at inquirer.com/author/mclane_jeff/.

unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane

"Adapt or die"

Reed Blankenship could feel it - the tingling, the puncture. He couldn’t bring himself to look, but he knew it wasn’t good. Immediately, he called out for help. He was hurt - badly. In a snap second, Blankenship's trajectory changed. All of a sudden, the persistent, hard-working kid from northern Alabama farm country wasn’t so sure what the future held. Would he be able to attain his NFL dreams? Fast forward a few years later, and Blankenship, who went undrafted in 2022, has staked his claim on a pivotal role on the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. What helped Blankenship overcome adversity? Which factors in his life shaped his character? How did the 25-year old go from undrafted rookie free agent to starting safety? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Eagles beat reporter Jeff McLane profiles one of the team's emerging contributors. 

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes in Season 3 dropping throughout the spring. 

Reed Blankenship could feel it - the tingling, the puncture. He couldn’t bring himself to look, but he knew it wasn’t good. Immediately, he called out for help. He was hurt - badly. In a snap second, Blankenship's trajectory changed. All of a sudden, the persistent, hard-working kid from northern Alabama farm country wasn’t so sure what the future held. Would he be able to attain his NFL dreams? Fast forward a few years later, and Blankenship, who went undrafted in 2022, has staked his claim on a pivotal role on the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. What helped Blankenship overcome adversity? Which factors in his life shaped his character? How did the 25-year old go from undrafted rookie free agent to starting safety? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Eagles beat reporter <a href="twitter.com/jeff_mclane">Jeff McLane</a> profiles one of the team's emerging contributors. 
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes in Season 3 dropping throughout the spring.

Needle in the haystack

It didn’t seem right. It didn’t feel fair. Jason Kelce’s iconic career as a Philadelphia Eagle came to an end in crash and burn fashion. After a promising start to the year that had experts pegging them as Super Bowl favorites, the team fell apart. There would be no repeat trip to the Super Bowl, or second championship ring. A storybook finish wasn’t in the cards. But as the pain of the Eagles’ demise receded, Kelce was able to look back on his 13-year run with pride. He brought the franchise a title, and gained thousands of adoring fans along the way. Now that football’s done, what’s next? In the second installment of “Kelce’s Last Stand,” The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane continues his journey through the Pro Bowler’s final go-round, detailing how he handled the Eagles’ collapse and what the future could hold for him. 

Click here to listen to Part 1.

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Season 3 begins Friday, April 19th, with new episodes dropping throughout the spring. 

It didn’t seem right. It didn’t feel fair. Jason Kelce’s iconic career as a Philadelphia Eagle came to an end in crash and burn fashion. After a promising start to the year that had experts pegging them as Super Bowl favorites, the team fell apart. There would be no repeat trip to the Super Bowl, or second championship ring. A storybook finish wasn’t in the cards. But as the pain of the Eagles’ demise receded, Kelce was able to look back on his 13-year run with pride. He brought the franchise a title, and gained thousands of adoring fans along the way. Now that football’s done, what’s next? In the second installment of “Kelce’s Last Stand,” The Philadelphia Inquirer’s <a href="twitter.com/Jeff_McLane">Jeff McLane</a> continues his journey through the Pro Bowler’s final go-round, detailing how he handled the Eagles’ collapse and what the future could hold for him. 
Click <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/uncovering-the-birds-with-jeff-mclane/eagles-podcast-jason-kelce-retirement-future-mclan">here</a> to listen to Part 1.
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Season 3 begins Friday, April 19th, with new episodes dropping throughout the spring.

Kelce's last stand: Part 2

Jeff McLane had a hunch. He covered every moment of Jason Kelce’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, from the day the team drafted him to Kelce's iconic Super Bowl victory speech on the Philadelphia Art Museum steps. The two had gotten to know each other well. Kelce wasn’t tipping his hand much heading into the 2023 season, but as far back as last summer, there were signs: the veteran offensive lineman was getting ready for an exit. A few months later, Kelce officially retired. In this two-part story, McLane, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s award-winning Eagles beat reporter for over 15 years, takes you on a “fly-on-the-wall” journey through Kelce’s last hurrah, as told from the perspective of Kelce himself and people close to him. What was really going on behind the scenes during the Eagles’ roller coaster season? How much did their eventual collapse factor into his decision? What opportunities does Kelce have lined up next? Listen to both parts of “Kelce’s Last Stand” now to hear the final chapter of a Philadelphia sports star’s iconic playing career. 

Click here to listen to Part 2.

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Season 3 begins Friday, April 19th, with new episodes dropping throughout the spring. 

Jeff McLane had a hunch. He covered every moment of Jason Kelce’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, from the day the team drafted him to Kelce's iconic Super Bowl victory speech on the Philadelphia Art Museum steps. The two had gotten to know each other well. Kelce wasn’t tipping his hand much heading into the 2023 season, but as far back as last summer, there were signs: the veteran offensive lineman was getting ready for an exit. A few months later, Kelce officially retired. In this two-part story, <a href="twitter.com/Jeff_McLane">McLane</a>, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s award-winning Eagles beat reporter for over 15 years, takes you on a “fly-on-the-wall” journey through Kelce’s last hurrah, as told from the perspective of Kelce himself and people close to him. What was really going on behind the scenes during the Eagles’ roller coaster season? How much did their eventual collapse factor into his decision? What opportunities does Kelce have lined up next? Listen to both parts of “Kelce’s Last Stand” now to hear the final chapter of a Philadelphia sports star’s iconic playing career. 
Click <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/uncovering-the-birds-with-jeff-mclane/eagles-podcast-jason-kelce-retirement-future-2">here</a> to listen to Part 2.
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Season 3 begins Friday, April 19th, with new episodes dropping throughout the spring.

"Adapt or die"

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