Four years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles announced the hiring of an unfamiliar coach in the NFL ranks in Nick Sirianni. A man who spent nine of his 12 seasons on an NFL sideline in a position no higher than quarterbacks or wide receivers coach. A man who was an offensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts for just three seasons 2018-2020. A man who was ridiculed in his first season for using a flower analogy on how he described the growing process through tough times to a team and a city who is emboldened by taking on the mantra of being tough and physical. A man who gets mocked for comparing the NFL to high school football on Friday nights.
However, all Sirianni has proven to this point is that he is the man for the job.
The Ebbs and Flows of Sirianni’s Tenure
The list of Sirianni’s shortcomings, successes and nonideal situations as a head coach is as long as a CVS receipt in just his fourth season.
He put together a young coaching staff and hit home runs with the likes of Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon who played major roles in the success the Eagles had to start his tenure and of course making the team a Super Bowl caliber squad in 2022. Those two have since moved on to become head coaches in the league.
Last season, the staff he assembled was less than desirable and it all crumbled down the stretch of the season with Brian Johnson at offensive coordinator and Sean Desai and then later Matt Patricia at defensive coordinator. We all remember how the year ended, with the biggest collapse in franchise history and an uninspiring effort in the playoff game against Tampa Bay.
Even this season, after a 2-2 start, Sirianni’s job security was in question, with some clamoring for the Eagles to fire him in favor of Bill Belichick. His antics after squeaking by the lowly Cleveland Browns in Week 6 made national headlines and he was ripped both locally and nationally. He gets knocked for relinquishing play calling duties, becoming one of the few coaches in the NFL who doesn’t have a direct hand in calling plays throughout a game.
Sirianni’s seat has been anything but comfortable since he took the job in a city that yearns for success and even more so, championships.
Some of the criticism is certainly warranted and deserved. I’ve been critical of Sirianni early on in the season. However, it’s evident that since that moment after the Browns game, he has adjusted and has become a better leader.
Players Respect Him
A.J. Brown, one of the most outspoken players in the locker room has stood up for the fourth-year head coach last season when he said Sirianni fell on the sword for him and Jalen Hurts ad-libbing that final play in Seattle. He recently defended him regarding the criticism Sirianni has faced this season.
Brown who’s “passing” comment stirred the pot and questioned the relationship between him and Hurts for a second straight season, caused a lot of speculation all week leading up to the Steelers game three weeks ago. After a dominant win, Sirianni said postgame that he saw an opportunity to get better with all of the outside noise.
In Sunday’s win over Dallas, when Saquon Barkley reached the 2,000-yard mark in second half, Sirianni called a timeout to allow Barkley to be recognized by the fans and his teammates. He understands what it means to respect his players.
Kenny Pickett, who joined the team before the season, spoke very highly about the culture within the locker room after his impressive performance on Sunday, saying that the team has a “college team feel” to it. That is a hat tip to the captains and veterans, but also a credit to how Sirianni is able to cultivate a family-oriented culture.
Two years ago, when the Eagles won 13 games for the first time under Sirianni, captain Lane Johnson waited for his head coach to embrace him after the win. These are grown men who know what respect is and what it means to receive it. Sirianni has delivered in an unwavering manner in that department.
Just Keep Winning
The saying “Winning cures everything” is certainly a true statement. There’s not much to nitpick when wins are stacking up and the team is playing well, and coaches and players aren’t under a microscope.
As the Eagles’ head coach, he owns a 47-20 record which is currently the highest winning percentage of any active head coach. He has now led the Eagles to the playoffs in each of the first four seasons, of course making an appearance in Super Bowl LVII. Sirianni also made history Sunday, racking up 13 wins in multiple seasons, becoming the first coach in franchise history to accomplish such a feat.
There’s no doubt Sirianni has showcased some of his deficiencies and we will more than likely see more on display as his career progresses. You still might not like him at all. You might be indifferent. You might have been in favor of him for the last couple of seasons. Regardless of where you stand, it’s evident that he is the right man to handle this roster chalk full of superstars and all the challenges that comes with being the head coach of the most popular sports franchise in the city.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
