Julian Love, a cocky 24-year-old safety for the New York Giants, stirred up controversy last week by claiming that virtually anyone could coach the Philadelphia Eagles. Love stated that Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia’s actual head coach, had a “free ride” to the Super Bowl due to the team’s abundance of talent.
“Do you know what? People always have something to say at home,” Brandon Graham, a veteran linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, would respond just hours later. “They had time to consider it. So I won’t elaborate too much on it.”
Graham subsequently addressed the subject. The Eagles made the playoffs despite low expectations during Sirianni’s first season as head coach, he said. Then he stated that in Sirianni’s second season, the Eagles improved, winning their first eight games, finishing the regular season with a 14-3 record, and then crushing two playoff opponents, including the Giants.
“Many individuals are furious about the events of this season. I understand,” Graham remarked. “However, it carries no weight because Coach has proven himself every day.” And if you weren’t in this room, you wouldn’t know that. Nothing but lip service.”
Can anyone coach the Eagles
Love dislikes the 41-year-old Sirianni, in part, due to his brashness. Late in the Giants’ thrashing, Sirianni pleaded with a television camera, “Look at us now, fools!” Sirianni, a father of three and the son of a coach who was a wide receiver at a small college (albeit a really good one, Mount Union in Ohio) seems to like rousing people.
Love is correct about Sirianni’s resources, however: Philadelphia’s general manager, Howie Roseman, has selected or bought so much talent that others could effectively coach the Eagles on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona, when they face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII (even though the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes, the likely NFL MVP).
But this undervalues Sirianni. When the Eagles hired him from the Indianapolis Colts, where he was offensive coordinator, he had an amazing resume. Before that, he had served as an assistant coach in Kansas City for three years. Sirianni’s release was one of Andy Reid’s first actions as Chiefs head coach in 2013. This might add heat to Sunday’s game, despite Sirianni’s apparent disregard for the past.
Sirianni stated last week, “It was more like receiving my fate there,” adding, “[Reid] pulled me into the office and asked to meet with me and told me face-to-face that he had a guy but had heard good things about me, and I appreciated that, his honesty, and his ability to get in touch with me as quickly as possible so I could move on and find another job.”
Coach the Eagles to the Super Bowl
Sirianni landed in San Diego, where he worked under Frank Reich, who ultimately became offensive coordinator for the Eagles and head coach in Indianapolis. Sirianni was brought to Indy by Reich. Reich was fired two weeks before the Eagles’ 20 November comeback victory over the Colts, 17-16. Sirianni shouted to the crowd, “This was for Frank Reich!”
However, Sirianni has grown into his position. Sirianni was so agitated and evasive when he has announced as Philadelphia’s head coach in January 2021 that it appeared the Eagles had made a mistake. In an attempt to give credit to his mentors, he once stated, “You take the good, you take the bad, and you make the best of it.”
Under Sirianni, the Eagles lost five of their first seven games but won six of their final eight to qualify for the playoffs. Sirianni appealed to Philadelphia’s most well-known working-class figure by displaying a clip from Rocky and arguing that a person who continues getting slammed on the canvas can demoralize an opponent by getting back up.
This year, however, his theme has emphasized consistency. The veteran center for the Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Kelce, stated this week, “His number one responsibility has been to create a squad that is focused on improving, that is focused on working, that comes to the facility every day with energy, and that is motivated to get better. These factors significantly outweigh the choice of play on third down. I believe Nick does an outstanding job with it. I believe that he deserves full credit for that.”
Roseman added talent to the receiving corps, linebackers, and secondary, and quarterback Jalen Hurts is a dual-threat phenom, but Sirianni’s Eagles are built on their monstrous, vicious, and punishing offensive and defensive lines.
Establish a bond between coach and player
The Eagles strengthened their defensive front by acquiring veterans Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph in the middle of the season.
“With all new coaches, you must establish a bond between coach and player, as well as between player and coach. “You can’t help but want to play for him,” said defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, one of four linemen who have played for the Eagles for a decade, including the Super Bowl-winning season five years ago.
The Eagles do not appear to have a vulnerability, but the same has been said about unsuccessful teams in the past. Sirianni is a coach who cares about you and wants the best for you, according to cornerback Darius Slay. This is what activates a player.”
Sirianni has less experience leading a club to the Super Bowl than the 64-year-old Reid, who will be doing so for the fourth time. The 2004 Philadelphia Eagles were the first of these teams to lose to the Patriots. But Reid won the championship with the Chiefs three years ago (then went back the next year). Big Red has the advantage in the coaching contest.
However, Sirianni is nothing if not resolute. When questioned about that first news conference, Graham laughed.
“He spoke only inappropriate things. We attacked him. Graham stated, “I felt he entered the room and provided an honest response to how he felt, but he was angry about it.”
“That’s when he won me over,” continued Graham. “His honesty regarding his emotions. As he does, you sometimes wear your emotions on your sleeve. He does an excellent job of taking responsibility for his actions and moving on.”
