Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford, slated to become a free agent this offseason, says whoever the team hires as their next coach will have a significant bearing on his desire to remain with the team next season.

And while he’s still around, he wants everyone to know his feelings about offensive coordinator -- and for a game, interim head coach -- Pat Shurmur.

“The quarterback-head coach relationship is extremely important in any organization,” Bradford said. “Given the history I have with Pat -- we were together my rookie year [with the Rams] and reunited this year, I think it would mean a lot to me. I would love to play for him. I really enjoyed playing for him [on Sunday]. If he is a candidate, I hope that he gets serious consideration.”

Shurmur got official consideration on Monday, when the Eagles hosted him for an interview for the position, and the confidence with which his players, including Bradford, spoke of his play calling in their season finale, a 35-30 win over the Giants, could play a factor.

Bradford said he felt more comfortable going under center in that game, and was given more freedom to change plays at the line when he felt he should. Shurmur’s more traditional pace, also, aided the Eagles in forming a consistent offensive game plan.

If only they were allowed to play slower for more of the season -- and not force their defense to play against the NFL’s most snaps -- Bradford and the fragile offense could have progressed more than they had. Their quarterback did noticeably improve down the stretch, something he says he owes to their bye week.

And some time to unscramble his brain.

“The longer I was out there, the more comfortable I became,” Bradford said. “It just took a little longer than I’d hoped to get to that level. Earlier in the season, I missed throws that I was not accustomed to missing. It seems like after the bye, everything came back to me. Everything slowed down. I played the way I knew I could play.”

Bradford finished the season with the fourth-most passing yards of any quarterback in Eagles history, and, with Shurmur at the helm next season, he believes he can improve further.