The loudmouths on Philadelphia sports radio wasted no time shouting into their microphones about Bill Belichick taking over for Nick Sirianni. Minutes after it was announced that the legendary coach had parted ways with the New England Patriots, one popular station put up a poll: “Who would you rather be the Eagles’ head coach in 2024?” It included a side-by-side picture of Sirianni and Belichick.
The responses from Eagles fans came flooding in on social media, up to 245 comments (and counting) at the time of this posting. The results of the poll were a mixed bag, with many Philly diehards pointing to Belichick’s advanced age (71) and recent failures as reasons to stay away. Still, the six-time Super Bowl champion — none of them without Tom Brady under center — had plenty of support to silence the doubters.
It’s an interesting debate, one that will continue to light up phone lines especially if the Eagles get blown out in the wild-card round. Time will tell.
Is Eagles HC Nick Sirianni on the Hot Seat?
“I think anyone can lead when times are easy. When times are hard, this is when you see what you’re made of and how you lead,” Sirianni told reporters on January 8. “And so, I look at it as a challenge that I know we can get out of this slump that we’re in. It’s my job to make sure that we do, and I look at it as a challenge and how sweet it will be when we do get out of it because I know we will, and I know we’ve got the right guys to get out of it.”
Is Nick Sirianni Really on the Hot Seat?
It seems absurd to think a guy who has guided the Eagles to three straight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl berth could be staring down the barrel of the unemployment line. Nick Sirianni has posted a 34-17 record in 51 career games. That is the highest winning percentage (.667) among NFL head coaches hired since 2021.
Impressive numbers, right? Fletcher Cox thinks so. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo as much when discussing rumors of Sirianni being on the hot seat.
Cox said: “That’s a little bit much, right? We’re talking about a first-year coach who has taken us to the playoffs three straight years, took us to the championship game last year … that’s a little bit of overkill.”
Not everyone agrees. Listen to what retired sports talker Angelo Cataldi told Dan Sileo:
“If they bring Sirianni back, no matter who they dress up around him, they’re screwed. He has lost the city and most likely the locker room,” Cataldi said. “He has to go. I don’t even think he can survive a win on Monday night and a slaughter the next week against one of the great teams. I don’t even think then he can get through this. He doesn’t know how to coach.”
Brian Johnson Interviews with Titans, Panthers
Brian Johnson has been blamed for many of the problems plaguing the Eagles’ offense. The first-year offensive coordinator has struggled to call a complete game, prioritizing bubble screens to 34-year-old receivers on long third downs and refusing to commit to a ground game paced by a 1,000-yard rusher behind the best offensive line in football. Sure, I dummied the play-calling issues down and draped them in sarcasm. Who cares. It’s a problem.
Despite all the noise to fire Johnson from outside the building, there appears to be interest in Jalen Hurts’ childhood friend from around the league. The Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers have both reportedly invited Johnson to interview for their head-coaching vacancies. Maybe they are just catering to the NFL’s Rooney Rule requirement for minorities, or perhaps they are genuinely interested. Either way, Johnson is keeping his intentions mum.
“I have no comment,” Johnson said of the interview rumors. “All of my focus is about this week, and we’ve got a great opportunity with a special group of people to go out there and put on a great performance against Tampa Bay, and that’s where all of our focus and energy is at the moment.”
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
