In many ways, Nick Sirianni is the perfect coach for the city of Philadelphia’s football team.
He embodies the attitude of a city that celebrates a “no one likes us, we don’t care” mantra. Sirianni wouldn’t look out of place in a Delco Wawa or trash-talking opposing fans in the K Lot outside Lincoln Financial Field. He doesn’t have a filter, for better or worse, and is fiercely competitive, which has led to shouting matches between the coach and fans during and after games. It has been an intense roller-coaster ride for fans, who’ve been screaming alongside (and sometimes at) Sirianni as he’s guided the team to new heights while barely surviving the low points.
Sirianni has been to the playoffs all four years he’s been the Eagles head coach. They’ve been to the Super Bowl twice in three years, after the franchise had gone to the Super Bowl only three times in the five decades before Sirianni’s hiring.
Only three coaches in the Super Bowl era have a higher winning percentage than Sirianni’s 70.6 percent: John Madden, Vince Lombardi, and George Allen. His all-time winning percentage and other achievements alone would make you think that Sirianni was the darling of the City of Brotherly Love, but that hasn’t been the case at all. Sirianni doesn’t even get the same amount of credit as Jim Harbaugh, Matt LaFleur, and Kevin O’Connell—the three active names right behind him in all-time winning percentage. Opposing fan bases may find Sirianni’s antics off-putting, but he’s precisely the kind of coach that they’d love if he were leading their team.
Sirianni has constantly faced the question “What do you actually do?” from his skeptics. For now, he’s done a whole lot of winning. The rest is up for interpretation.
That’s not to say there haven’t been moments during Sirianni’s tenure when fans thought he was on his way out—from his very first (and very awkward) press conference in 2021, through this past September, when he was the punchline of many coaching jokes. Sirianni’s decisions have routinely been questioned, but he’s earned the respect of the fan base and the city as a whole—at least for now—and could etch his name into Philadelphia history with a win on Sunday. Sirianni has made culture building his calling card as a head coach. In this city, that is amplified tenfold.
Before Sirianni’s return to the Super Bowl, I’ve selected 11 moments that best define the roller-coaster ride that has been his tenure as Eagles head coach. More like snapshots of his career than a complete timeline, these moments best explain Sirianni’s proud confidence, his players-first approach, his inconsistent relationship with his quarterback, and more.
Sirianni’s First Press Conference (January 29, 2021)
If Dan Campbell and Sirianni have taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t judge a head coach based on how he comes across during the most stressful public-facing interview of his life. It was certainly unusual and aggressive for Campbell to talk about biting kneecaps in his first press conference, and similarly, Sirianni’s nerves were on full display here. Sirianni looked like he was giving a book report on a book that he hadn’t actually read.
The context of the decision to hire Sirianni is important. The Eagles were uncertain about whether they would move on from Doug Pederson after the 2020 season. The delay in parting ways with him meant that they missed out on many of the hottest coaching names. By the time they selected Sirianni, a then-39-year-old offensive coordinator who didn’t call plays during his time in Indianapolis, he was relatively unknown to most of the league.
It wasn’t a great first impression, but it ultimately didn’t matter, as the most important parts of NFL coaching don’t happen during press conferences. That said, Sirianni’s performance came off so poorly that after it was done, I hopped in my car and drove around suburban Philadelphia for an hour just to listen to angry fans sound off on sports talk radio about why their new coach was a terrible hire.
That Time He Compared the Eagles to … a Flower? (October 27, 2021)
The Eagles traveled to Las Vegas and suffered a 33-22 loss to the Raiders, falling to 2-5. During a midweek presser following the loss, veteran reporter Howard Eskin asked Sirianni how he keeps the team together despite a bad loss, and Sirianni then shared the analogy he used with the players, comparing the Eagles to a flower that’s ready to bloom and talking about the soil and the importance of everyone watering and fertilizing said flower.
After this loss, a belief emerged that Sirianni should be a one-and-done coach, yet the Eagles blossomed just as Sirianni predicted. Sirianni eventually handed play calling duties over to offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, and the Eagles went on to win six of their final eight games, securing a spot in the playoffs in Sirianni’s first season as head coach.
“That Sh-t Was for Frank Reich!” (November 20, 2022)
Sirianni returned to Indianapolis for the first time since becoming the Eagles head coach in Week 9 of the 2022 season. His Eagles had the best record in the NFL. The Colts had fired head coach Frank Reich, who had history with Sirianni, just two weeks before the game. (Reich had hired Sirianni as the Colts’ offensive coordinator in 2018, and the two had also worked together for the Chargers from 2013 to 2016.) It’s clear that Sirianni wasn’t happy that his former organization had fired his close friend, and he demonstrated his loyalty by shouting, “That shit was for Frank Reich” after Jalen Hurts scored the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes on the clock.
Sirianni isn’t afraid to express his emotions or speak about his outbursts publicly. “I’m emotional because I love Frank Reich, I really do,” Sirianni said. “He’s one of the best damn coaches I’ve ever been around. I was hoping he and I would be able to coach against each other in this game.”
It was an important win for the Eagles—they had lost at home on Monday Night Football six days prior—and Sirianni was in the midst of a memorable second season with the team. The Colts’ interim head coach at the time, Jeff Saturday, commented on The Ryen Russillo Podcast that, at the time of the game Sirianni was still well respected in the Colts locker room after his days in Indianapolis.
It’s easy for this moment to get lost in Sirianni’s other fan interactions, some of which could be better described as “petty shouting matches.” But for Sirianni, this specific flare-up showcased his loyalty and the respect he had earned in past locker rooms.
Sirianni Cries During the National Anthem (February 12, 2023)
I watched Super Bowl LVII at a house party with a dozen Eagles fans just outside the city. When the broadcast cut to tears streaming down Sirianni’s face as Chris Stapleton performed the national anthem, the entire room commented on it. Sirianni had displayed extreme confidence and strength throughout that season, for good reason: The Eagles were a juggernaut. Whether defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon was saying that they’d “gut” the 49ers in the NFC championship game or Sirianni was passionately shouting about Reich after defeating the Colts, the Eagles didn’t show emotional or physical vulnerability often.
In that moment, everyone got to see Sirianni the man, not just the loud football coach. “Nick Sirianni crying” became a meme after the Eagles lost on a field goal, but the Eagles coach had already swept fans’ hearts. Instead, most of the day-after ire was focused on the referees, the sodfather, and Gannon’s defense.
Sirianni’s Trash Talk Returns (November 20, 2023)
In one of the 2023 regular season’s most highly anticipated games, the Eagles beat the Chiefs 21-17 in Kansas City. Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped a game-winning touchdown in the final minutes, continuing a string of one-score wins for an Eagles team that didn’t look nearly as good as their 9-1 record suggested.
This was not only a Super Bowl rematch on Monday Night Football, but also the period when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship was the main topic of NFL conversation. But somehow, Sirianni found a way to make headlines yet again, loudly questioning the silence in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium after the Eagles picked up the win.
With the wins piling up, it was easy to shut down any criticism of the team and point to its record. But Sirianni’s schtick seemed to be growing a bit tired with, well, everybody at that point. Screaming, “I don’t hear shit anymore, Chiefs fans” about the team that beat you in the Super Bowl, just because you won a regular-season game? This moment foreshadowed the overconfidence and collapse that almost cost him his job.
That “RUN THE BALL” Sign (December 6, 2023)
The Eagles were embarrassed at home by the eventual NFC champion 49ers, dropping to 10-2 on December 3. Just like the Eagles’ revenge game against the Chiefs in Week 11, the 49ers avenged their NFC championship game loss in Week 13, crushing the Eagles 42-19 in Philly. It was a reality check for the Eagles (and the Philly fan base), who thought that they were gliding toward the no. 1 seed again.
The Eagles had nine rushing attempts by running backs in the game, for 21 total yards. Hurts finished as the Eagles’ leading rusher, with 20. A few fans decided they wanted to voice their displeasure with the offensive game plan, showing up outside the Eagles practice facility with a sign that said, “RUN THE BALL.”
Other fan bases would likely scoff at the idea of protesting a 10-2 football team, but this is Philadelphia, and when you’re the head coach of the Eagles or playing for the team, you don’t get to bank much goodwill. Sirianni showed that he understands this critical part of his job with his response to those particular fans; he mentioned in a press conference that they offered them coffee.
Sirianni Takes the Fall for Hurts and A.J. Brown (December 20, 2023)
Consecutive blowout losses to the 49ers and Cowboys opened the door for a potential collapse, and the Eagles’ road loss to Drew Lock and Seattle on Monday Night Football officially sounded the alarm bells. Forget that the defense—now coached by Matt Patricia—allowed Lock to drive the ball 92 yards to take the lead in the final minute. The Eagles offense had first-and-10 at their own 45-yard line with 13 seconds left. Trailing 20-17, they needed only about 15 yards to get into field goal range so that kicker Jake Elliott could try to force overtime.
Hurts had room to throw underneath but instead threw downfield to a well-covered Brown. The pass was intercepted by Julian Love, ending the game. Afterward, when Sirianni was asked about that final play, he said that the Eagles were trying to draw pass interference. Bad answer. It didn’t make much sense, and it made Sirianni look like a coach who was losing control of his team.
We didn’t learn until two weeks later that Sirianni was taking the fall for his wide receiver and quarterback “freelancing,” according to Brown. It was a fascinating look into the head coach’s willingness to take responsibility, even for events and situations that weren’t his fault. As the pressure mounted on the Eagles and the relationship between Hurts and Sirianni went under the microscope, this became one of the defining moments of the season for me.
Hurts Dodges the Sirianni Question After Playoff Loss (January 16, 2024)
While some were calling for Sirianni to be fired before the playoff loss, it took Hurts’s comments after Tampa Bay embarrassed the Eagles in the opening round of the playoffs for me to think the coach actually wouldn’t return. The Eagles had just given Hurts a $255 million extension following his performance during the 2022-23 season, and certainly very few would have blamed the Eagles if they’d fired Sirianni, given how badly the team had performed over the previous two months.
When asked whether he wanted to see Sirianni return, Hurts said, “I didn’t know he was going anywhere.” When asked whether Sirianni’s job was in jeopardy, Hurts said he didn’t know about that. He then dodged a question about his confidence in the Eagles head coach by saying he had confidence in everyone in the building.
This stood in stark contrast to Jordan Mailata and other Eagles players, who were much more vocal and outspoken in their defense of their head coach. “I don’t understand that. He’s taken us to the playoffs three consecutive years,” Mailata said. “He’s taken us to the Super Bowl last year. That’s gotta account for something. He’s a hell of a coach. Hell of a coach. I feel stupid saying that, how did we get there?”
The Eagles ultimately stuck with Sirianni, but they didn’t allow him to choose either of the coordinators ahead of the 2024 season. Additionally, the fan base lost trust in Sirianni that had to be earned back, and that wouldn’t be easy.
The Golf Cart Ride (August 5, 2024)
After the disappointing end to the 2023-24 season, the Eagles were working to right wrongs and start fresh. They still had one of the league’s most talented rosters and two of the most respected and experienced coordinators on both sides of the ball, and they were favored to win the NFC East. There was one question looming after the end of the previous season: Do their quarterback and head coach even like each other?
Big Dom DiSandro, the Eagles’ chief security officer, was spotted riding in a golf cart with Hurts and Sirianni during training camp. Big Dom sat in the back of the golf cart as Hurts and Sirianni sat up front together, smiles on their faces.
The most intriguing detail about this golf cart ride was that it occurred just two days before ESPN reporters Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler released a report highlighting the disconnect between Sirianni and Hurts during the previous season.
For those who enjoy a good conspiracy theory, it’s worth considering that the Eagles may have been aware of the upcoming ESPN story. To get ahead of the looming questions, did they stage this whimsical golf cart ride between their totally cool and not beefing head coach and quarterback, with a beloved Philly luminary riding along for good measure? I’m not saying they did … but I’m also not saying they didn’t.
Hurts on His Relationship With Sirianni: “We Have Our Moments” (September 29, 2024)
The Eagles were 2-2 after being blown out in Tampa (again). Headed into the bye week, Hurts was asked about how he and Sirianni planned to come together to find an identity for the Eagles. Hurts’s response—“we have our moments”—can be placed next to the uninspiring answer he’d given about Sirianni the previous January, essentially erasing any positive vibes they’d (allegedly) attempted to manufacture during the preseason. After Hurts had 11 turnover-worthy plays in the first four games of the season, the Eagles transitioned into a much more run-heavy offense when they came back from the bye.
Sirianni’s Apology (October 13, 2024)
Sirianni showed up to the Browns game with a shaved head. The Eagles home crowd chanted “Fire Nick” and booed their team off the field at halftime after the Browns blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown to tie the game. After the Eagles eked out a 20-16 win, a viral video emerged showing Sirianni shouting at the fans.
Following this incident, he held a bizarre press conference and, eventually, issued an apology. During the bye week, his players asked him to bring back some of his old spirit and be more himself. “I told him to be him. I need him to be 2022 Nick,” defensive end Brandon Graham said. “We got his back. Because Philly can be hard, I know all about it.”
Sirianni is still trying to strike the right balance of fire and poise. He’s a players-first coach with arguably the most talented roster in the NFL. The photo of Sirianni hugging a crying C.J. Gardner-Johnson following this year’s NFC championship game could make even the most staunch Eagles hater feel some type of positive emotion.
Yet there are questions about the Eagles’ uninspiring offensive scheme heading into the Super Bowl. He has staunchly defended his franchise quarterback, even as Hurts joked about his coach following the NFC championship game.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said on Monday that Sirianni’s displays of emotion are “one of his strengths and [one of his] weaknesses.”
What’s Next for Sirianni?
If the Eagles Win on Sunday …
Sirianni’s legacy will be established forever; he may end up with a statue like his predecessor. The Eagles would be the only franchise that’s beaten Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady in the playoffs; Sirianni’s story would be one of the most remarkable one-year turnarounds for a coach in sports history.
If the Eagles Lose on Sunday …
They’ll join a long line of potential NFL mini-dynasties ruined by Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Steve Spagnuolo. Depending on how they lose, the fan base will draw comparisons between Sirianni’s tenure and Reid’s as Eagles head coach, for better or worse, come Monday morning.
