NEW ORLEANS — Nick Sirianni is the first coach in Philadelphia Eagles’ history to take the team to the Super Bowl twice. He’s already in elite company among peers reaching the season’s final game again, something only Mike Tomlin and Joe Gibbs can claim in their first four seasons as head coach.
But Sirianni’s contract expires after next season, and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said seated on the sideline at the Superdome on Monday night that this wasn’t the time to discuss a new deal.
Sirianni, 43, and Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman are not stumping for cash during Super Bowl week. At this time last year, Sirianni wondered if he would be asked to return. Roseman endorsed keeping the fiery coach with some modifications. Eventually the Eagles asked him to stay with two new coordinators.
“For me, that’s always there. Every year, I have to prove myself,” Roseman said Monday. “You can go from the top to getting your ass kicked real quick.
“I know that after the Super Bowl I’ll drive my guys crazy telling them we’re behind (scouting for the draft and planning for free agency) and we’ve got to meet. But I think that’s part of it.”
Sirianni is loved by players and loathed in some circles because of his emotional antics. During the previous Super Bowl meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was caught on video trying to keep Sirianni from talking trash. He’s had multiple outbursts at opposing fans.
Lurie, the owner of the Eagles during previous Super Bowl trips with Andy Reid and Doug Pederson on the sideline, on Monday called it one of the young firebrand’s best traits, “and one of the worst.”
Philadelphia tight end Dallas Goedert echoed Roseman’s thoughts on why players are ready to go to bat for their coach.
“It’s special, the closeness of our group, and it’s a credit to him,” Goedert said.
Sirianni said he and Roseman are in lockstep on plans for the future of the Eagles. They spend countless hours in the offseason running into each other’s office to see if their eyes caught the same prospect who might be a potential gem in their system.
Roseman said Sirianni “keys on connection” in and out of the locker room as a core principle in Philadelphia.
“He also trusts,” Roseman said.
–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media
