Eagles Hire Fletcher Cox's College Coach To Lead Defensive Line

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Hiring Doug Pederson made one thing very obvious to most people -- the Eagles needed to be very deliberate and strategic in terms of hiring assistants. As a first time head coach, Pederson needed to assemble a staff with experience, if for no other reason, to calm the concerns of anxious fans.

On Wednesday, the Eagles announced a hiring that falls nicely under the strategic category. The team announced the hiring of defensive line coach Chris Wilson.

Wilson worked at Mississippi State while Fletcher Cox played there. Cox was coached by Wilson from 2010-12 as Cox starred as a defensive tackle in Mississippi State's 4-3 scheme.

The Eagles have not determined what type of defense they will under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but having a coach on the team that helped to develop Cox's game, while he played in a 4-3, is a smart move.

Cox is clearly the most talented player on the Eagles defense, if not the entire team. The way he is utilized during this transition to a new defense, will greatly impact the success of this new coaching staff.

Wilson will help to try to secure success in that department.

Prior to accepting this job with the Eagles, Wilson accepted a position with Missouri following the 2015 season.

"I sat down with him, actually, this morning, and had a great interview with him. Jim Schwartz and I spent about 2 1/2 hours with him and he's got attention to detail, fundamentals, he's a technician," Pederson said via the team's website. "He's worked with some of our guys before, he's recruited some of our guys before, actually, so he's very aware of the talent that we have and he'll fit our system well."

Wilson has worked as a college coach for the last 23 years, including stints with USC, Oklahoma, Colorado and Georgia. He also interned with three NFL teams during the 90's.

Wilson was a two-time team captain at Oklahoma as a linebacker and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round in 1992. Wilson never made an NFL roster and began his coaching career the following year.

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