By Steve Lienert
(The Phanatic Magazine) -ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reported earlier today that Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was granted an indefinite leave of absence from the team to undergo more chemotherapy treatments for his melanoma.
Sources close to the situation said the word “retire” had been actively tossed around before both parties settled on the leave of absence.
The situation seems grim: head coach Andy Reid told Paolantonio, “I told him to take care of himself first, and when he’s ready to come back, come back. I’d like to tell you he’s great, but he’s not. He’s struggling right now. I told him, when you feel like it, come back.”
Eagles’ secondary coach Sean McDermott, who is one of the hot up-and-coming coaching prospects in the NFL, will assume Johnson’s duties until Johnson feels up to returning. If anyone can even partially fill Johnson’s shoes, it’s McDermott.
Sadly, word on the street is that the doctors don’t think there is much more they can do for the 68-year-old Johnson. Besides being a Yoda-like master of the blitz, Johnson has always been a class act and a favorite among Eagles fans everywhere.
Here’s hoping Johnson makes a full recovery and coaches the Eagles’ defense for as long as he feels up to it. Johnson has repeatedly said he will not retire from coaching because he loves it and it keeps him going.
He will, however, miss the Eagles ‘Organized Team Activities’ that begin on May 20th.
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