The Eagles are saddened to learn of the death of Bill McGovern, who coached the outside linebackers from 2013-15. McGovern passed away at the age of 60 on Tuesday following a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, and three daughters: Amanda, Delainey, and Mackenzie.
McGovern's outside linebackers led the way as the Eagles finished with 49 sacks in 2014 – tied for the second most in the entire NFL. Connor Barwin earned his first career All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections as he posted a career-high 14.5 sacks that season. Beyond his contributions to the linebacker room, McGovern was universally known as an upbeat and friendly person who was well-liked by everyone he touched within the organization.
Prior to his arrival in Philadelphia, McGovern boasted 27 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level and spent the previous 12 years at Boston College, including four as the school's defensive coordinator. After leaving Philadelphia, McGovern coached with the Giants for four seasons and spent a season as the inside linebackers coach on Sean Desai's Chicago Bears staff in 2021. He returned to the college ranks as UCLA's defensive coordinator in 2022.
McGovern began his coaching career in 1985 in Philadelphia, working with freshmen at UPenn before moving on to his alma mater, Holy Cross, as its assistant defensive backs coach (1986-87). He then coached defensive backs at Massachusetts (1987-90) before returning to Holy Cross as the head defensive backs coach (1991-92). McGovern returned to Massachusetts in 1992 as its defensive coordinator. He began his first stint at Boston College as the defensive backs coach from 1994-96. He also coached defensive backs at Pittsburgh from 1997-99.
A four-year starter at defensive back at Holy Cross, McGovern set single-season (11) and career (24) records for interceptions in I-AA as a senior while earning consensus first-team All-America honors. McGovern was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame in 1996.
The Oradell, New Jersey native attended Bergen Catholic High School and was elected to the Bergen County All-Century Football Team.
