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The Philadelphia Eagles added offensive firepower in running back Saquon Barkley and addressed their secondary holes this offseason. But most expect the relationship between quarterback Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni to be the reason whether or not the Eagles return to being a true Super Bowl contender this season.
ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler detailed that Hurts and Sirianni had a “fractured” and unhealthy relationship throughout the 2023 season. But this summer, Eagles new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is working to fix that issue.
“ESPN spoke with several sources who detailed a prolonged strain between Hurts and Sirianni during the 2023 campaign, with one source with direct knowledge of the dynamic describing the relationship as ‘fractured’ and unhealthy last season,” wrote McManus and Fowler. “At the root of the divide: a disconnect in offensive visions, with what a team source described as a lack of full respect for Sirianni’s X’s and O’s chops.
“With the 2024 season on the horizon, there is hope new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore can “bridge the gap between the two” as one source close to Hurts put it.”
The report added that both Hurts and Sirianni have “made efforts to take accountability and mend fences this offseason.” Regardless, the 2024 season could be a make or break campaign for Sirianni and perhaps Hurts as well.
Eagles’ Nick Sirianni, Jalen Hurts’ Fractured Relationship
After losing the Super Bowl following the 2022 season, the Eagles also lost offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. He left to become the Indianapolis Colts head coach.
How the Eagles replaced Steichen led to problems between Sirianni and Hurts. The Eagles promoted quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson, who McManus and Fowler wrote was viewed as a future NFL head coach last year.
But while Johnson and Hurts wanted to expand on the offense after Hurts finished second in MVP voting during 2022, Sirianni wanted to run the same offensive system Steichen did.
So, according to ESPN, Johnson never had full control of the Eagles offense last season. McManus and Fowler reported that Sirianni often “overruled” Johnson and that players weren’t always sure which coach was calling plays.
This led to Hurts and other offensive players breaking away from the offensive play call. McManus and Fowler reported Hurts’ deep throw to A.J. Brown in the final minute against the Seattle Seahawks was an off-the-cuff decision the veteran quarterback and receiver made on their own.
The play resulted in an interception and ended the game in an Eagles’ loss.
Eagles Mending Fences With New Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore
If there’s any good news from the ESPN report, it’s that Moore’s early presence for the Eagles has been positive. With Moore, Sirianni has taken more of a CEO approach to the offense and “given Hurts more space.”
“Interactions between Sirianni and Hurts during practice this spring and summer have appeared limited,” wrote McManus and Fowler. “While Moore shepherds the offense — a walkie-talkie in hand to call in the plays to the quarterback — Sirianni bounces from station to station.”
Hurts has taken to the new offense and appears to have a better relationship with Sirianni than he did at the end of last season.
“There have been other outward displays that suggest the relationship is in a better place, including on Monday when Hurts and Sirianni drove around the field on a golf cart together, both smiling as they took a lap in front of the media and some fans before heading out of sight,” wrote McManus and Fowler.
ESPN also reported Sirianni is relying more heavily on Moore in the quarterback room than he did last year with Johnson.
Pressure Sirianni Will Face During 2024 Campaign
Credit Sirianni for changing his approach despite three consecutive playoff appearances and an NFC championship. But something had to change in Philadelphia. That change almost was Sirianni not returning as the Eagles’ head coach.
But a coaching change after 2024 isn’t out of the question for the Eagles either.
“Some close observers of the coaching landscape already have Philadelphia circled as an opening barring a strong showing by the team in 2024,” wrote McManus and Fowler. “Sirianni and Roseman have a good relationship and work closely together, but there’s little question as to which is on stronger footing when it comes to job security.”
It’s unclear exactly what “a strong showing” might entail. But presumably anything less than a playoff appearance and perhaps a postseason win could result in a Sirianni departure.
Sirianni is counting on Moore and Hurts helping deliver a more efficient, potent offense this fall.
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