FOX Sports analyst Nick Wright isn’t buying the idea that Nick Sirianni belongs anywhere near the top of the NFL’s recent coaching hierarchy.
After ESPN ranked Sirianni No. 2 on its list of the best coaching hires since 2021, Wright pushed back hard.
“I would definitively rather have and better hires were: Dan Campbell…Mike Vrabel…Mike Macdonald…DeMeco, Sean Payton, Ben Johnson, Jim Harbaugh.”
“My issue is with Nick Sirianni being No. 2,” Wright said.
“I would definitively rather have Dan Campbell, Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald, DeMeco Ryans, Sean Payton, Ben Johnson, Jim Harbaugh.”
Wright didn’t stop there.
He added that even coaches like Kevin O’Connell and Liam Coen would rank ahead of Sirianni in his mind.
Wright argued those organizations, from ownership down to the locker room, appear more stable and satisfied.
“Yes, he’s won a Super Bowl,” Wright acknowledged. “But I do not think he’s one of the best hires of the last five years. No way.”
The comments land at a particularly uncomfortable moment for the Eagles, as Sirianni faces growing scrutiny amid an offensive coordinator search that was very rocky.
Sirianni Blamed for Eagles OC Search
Philadelphia found itself in an unfamiliar spot this offseason, with multiple candidates passing on the offensive coordinator job.
Multiple big name offensive coordinators opted to stay put or pursue lesser-profile roles rather than take the Eagles’ job.
As SB Nation’s James Dator bluntly framed it, there was a growing sense around the league that nobody was eager to work under Nick Sirianni.
The Eagles OC role has been chaotic over Sirianni’s tenure.
Coordinators either parlayed Eagles success into head-coaching roles or were quickly discarded and publicly blamed when things went sideways.
Kevin Patullo and Brian Johnson both lasted just one season, and both absorbed the brunt of fan and media criticism during offensive struggles.
Sirianni’s sideline demeanor, public confrontations, and hands-off approach have fueled a narrative that coordinators take the blame when the offense falters.
Philadelphia eventually filled the vacancy, hiring Sean Mannion away from Green Bay.
Still, the process itself raised eyebrows as notable names declined interest, and the perception lingered that the job came with unusual pressure tied directly to Sirianni’s leadership style.
Sirianni’s Results Are Undeniable
Lost in all the noise and criticism is a simple fact that Sirianni wins.
Since taking over in Philadelphia, Sirianni has produced results few coaches can match.
He’s led the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances, won 11 or more games in four of his first five seasons, and has a 59-26 regular-season record, the best mark in the NFL over that span
With 65 total wins, he’s already among the most successful coaches through five seasons in league history.
Inside the locker room, the support has been consistent.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith has said Sirianni “understands how to keep us at our best every day.”
“What makes a great coach is winning,” Saquon Barkley said recently.
“There’s a reason we protect the ball, a reason we play disciplined football and that starts with him.”
By any historical benchmark, Sirianni’s first five seasons are elite.
But despite those numbers, Nick Wright and many others remain openly critical.
Insider Pushes Back on Nick Sirianni Ranking Amid ESPN’s Coaching Hires List