Eagles coach Andy Reid says that defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will return to the team next season. "You're dealing with a guy that's a tremendous worker and is a very smart individual," Reid said Monday. "And so, I look at it a little bit different than you do. In that I've seen him work with young guys, I've seen him work through injuries, I've seen him stay positive through those situations, and still put us in a position to win football games. "And know that he's going to do nothing but improve as a coach, just like all of us, with experience. I got a lot of respect for him and the way he does business." McDermott, in his second season in charge of the defense, had to deal with a number of significant injuries to his unit. He lost six of his 11 starters at various points in the season. The defense allowed 31 passing touchdowns -- the worst number in Reid's 12 seasons -- and had the worst red zone percentage in the NFL since 1988.