Eagles Assistant Coach Leaving for Big Ten Program

Tyler Yelk departs Philadelphia to become Nebraska's new safeties coach.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 2:07pm

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive assistant Tyler Yelk is leaving the NFL team to join the coaching staff at the University of Nebraska. Yelk previously worked with Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich at Idaho in 2022 and will now reunite with him as the Cornhuskers' new safeties coach.

Why it matters

The Eagles' coaching staff has seen significant turnover in recent years, with this latest departure marking another hole that the team will need to fill this offseason. Yelk's move to the college ranks also represents an opportunity for career advancement.

The details

Yelk served in various roles with the Eagles over the past few seasons, including as an assistant to the head coach in 2023, the 'head coach quality control' in 2024 when the team made a Super Bowl run, and most recently as a defensive assistant in 2025. It's unclear if his contract was up or if the Eagles allowed him to leave for the Nebraska job.

  • Yelk overlapped with Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich on Idaho's staff in 2022.
  • Yelk joined the Eagles' coaching staff in 2023.

The players

Tyler Yelk

A former college coach who is leaving the Philadelphia Eagles to become the new safeties coach at the University of Nebraska.

Rob Aurich

The defensive coordinator at the University of Nebraska, who previously worked with Tyler Yelk at Idaho in 2022.

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What’s next

The Eagles will need to find a replacement for Tyler Yelk on their coaching staff ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

The takeaway

This move represents another change to the Philadelphia Eagles' coaching staff, as the team continues to see turnover among its assistant coaches. Yelk's departure for a college program also highlights the ongoing challenge of retaining quality coaching talent in the NFL.