This is another somewhat unexpected departure from the Eagles coaching staff.

In a somewhat unexpected development, Roy Istvan, who served as Jeff Stoutland’s top assistant for a long time, has departed the Eagles to take on the same role in Kevin Stefanski’s coaching staff with the Browns.

The Browns officially announced Istvan’s hiring on Thursday, revealing that he would be the assistant offensive line coach under the new Browns offensive line coach, Andy Dickerson. This move follows Istvan’s tenure as the Eagles’ assistant offensive line coach since 2019. Notably, Dickerson has taken over from Bill Callahan, who was the Eagles’ offensive line coach under Ray Rhodes and is now the o-line coach for the Titans under his son Brian, the team’s new head coach.

Istvan’s connection with Stoutland spans over 30 years, starting as a player under Stoutland and later coaching with him at Southern Connecticut State in the late 1980s. After nearly three decades of coaching in college, Istvan joined the Eagles in 2019.

Jeff Stoutland, in a social media video last week, indirectly hinted at his return to Nick Sirianni’s staff. As of now, he is the only confirmed returning assistant coach for the 2023 Eagles under new coordinators Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio.

Istvan will encounter familiar faces in Cleveland, as Stefanski has also hired Duce Staley as the running backs coach, and Istvan and Staley worked together with the Eagles in 2019 and 2020 under Doug Pederson. Additionally, Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was previously with Istvan in Philadelphia, and Browns general manager Andrew Berry was the Eagles’ vice president of football operations in 2019.

Notably, Istvan becomes the seventh assistant coach from Nick Sirianni’s 2023 staff known to no longer be with the team. Various coaches have taken on new roles, and some are yet to reveal their future plans. Istvan’s departure marks the end of a successful five-year collaboration with Stoutland, during which the Eagles had four offensive linemen earn a total of 11 Pro Bowl selections: Jason Kelce (five), Lane Johnson (three), Landon Dickerson (two), and Brandon Brooks (one).