The Philadelphia Eagles face daunting offseason questions following one of the most disappointing collapses in recent NFL history.
In the wake of the Eagles’ downfall, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano suggested the relationship between quarterback Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni has cooled, less than a calendar year since Sirianni and Hurts guided Philadelphia to the Super Bowl.
“It’s not clear at all that Jalen Hurts, the Eagles’ $255 million quarterback, has Sirianni’s back,” Vacchiano wrote in a story published January 16. “Hurts has reportedly been unhappy with the direction of the offense all season long, and he’s often appeared frustrated on the sidelines.”
Vacchiano wrote that “Hurts didn’t exactly sound enthusiastic” when “given a chance to endorse Sirianni” after the Eagles’ season careened to an end with a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cap wild-card weekend.
“When asked if he wanted Sirianni to return, Hurts said, ‘I didn’t know he was going anywhere.’ When he was told there was speculation about his job security, Hurts said, ‘I didn’t know that,’ Vacchiano wrote. “And when asked if he still had confidence in Sirianni, Hurts said, ‘I have a ton of confidence in everyone in this building.'”
The Eagles’ offense regressed in 2023, and while Hurts passed for 157 more yards with one more touchdown than he did in 2022, the 25-year-old’s interception total jumped from six to 15 and his passer rating slid from 101.5 to 89.1.
There were several heated conversations on the sideline during the 2023 season involving Sirianni and offensive stars as Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown.
If Sirianni returns, Vacchiano wrote, there is a chance owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manger Howie Roseman will force him to move on from both of his coordinators: Brian Johnson on offense and Sean Desai on defense.
On January 21, Desai was fired, according to multiple reports.
‘All Signs’ Point to Nick Sirianni Eagles Return
Despite losing six of the final seven games of the season, including the playoff loss in Tampa Bay, Sirianni will be back on the Eagles’ sideline in 2024, according to speculation from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“All signs point to him staying with the Eagles.” Schefter reported on air during ESPN’s January 20 broadcast of the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Houston Texans in one of the AFC’s divisional-round games. “Right now, Nick Sirianni has a job and it’s trending that it’ll stay that way.”
Even after the disappointing conclusion to 2023, Sirianni boasts a 34-17 record across his three seasons as Eagles head coach, with three playoff appearances and one Super Bowl berth during his tenure.
Fletcher Cox Offers Nick Sirianni Endorsement
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is one of the most respected leadership voices in the Eagles’ locker room, and he offered a full-throated endorsement of Sirianni as he cleaned out his locker at season’s end,
“What is there to talk about, man? He’s a winner. He’s a winning head coach,” Cox told reporters on January 17. “Did we have some bumps this year? Yeah. But every team, every organization, everybody goes through it. But we don’t look at firing a man who obviously has won 10-plus games two years in a row, who’s taken this organization to three playoff appearances three years in a row. That’s a respect.”
How Lurie factors the way veteran players view Sirianni into his decision remains to be seen, but it sure sounds like the 42-year-old hasn’t completely lost his locker room despite 2023’s season-ending slide.
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Eagles Speculation Rages as Reporter Asks Whether Hurts ‘Has Sirianni’s Back’