"John Bunting, an Eagles linebacker for 11 seasons who played on the franchise's first Super Bowl team, wants to coach in Philadelphia.

Bunting spoke over the phone with Eagles coach Andy Reid for about a half hour regarding the team's vacant linebackers coach position, according to a source close to the situation.

Bunting, who has eight years of NFL coaching experience and was also the head coach of nearby Rowan [N.J.] University when it was called Glassboro State, was the defensive coordinator for the Rams from 1997-1999 and won a Super Bowl ring with St. Louis.

He last coached at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, where he compiled a 27-45 record in six seasons as head coach. He was fired after the 2006 season and succeeded by Butch Davis.

Bunting, 60, would give Reid another veteran assistant on the defensive staff along with defensive line coach Jim Washburn to help the transition of new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who was recently promoted to the post after a lengthy stint as the team's offensive line coach. Castillo has never coached defense in the NFL and is entering his first season as a coordinator of any type.

Reid told Bunting that Castillo would have final say on the vacancy, the source said. The team also hasn't named a secondary coach to replace Dick Jauron, who took the Browns' defensive coordinator job.

Almost all of the Eagles' defensive staff from last season is gone but Reid retained assistant linebackers coach Mike Caldwell, another former Eagles linebacker, and quality control coach Mike Zordich, a former Eagles safety.

Reid suggested that both are candidates for the open positions.

"Listen, you obviously know that I kept a couple guys on the defensive side here that I think are tremendous, young coaches," he said Wednesday in his press conference to introduce Castillo as defensive coordinator."