A New Era

What Will Nick Sirriani Do to Really Change the Philadelphia Eagles Organization?

Shane Olexa, Reporting Journalist

On January 24, 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles hired former Colts Offensive Coordinator Nick Sirriani to be its next Head Coach. Sirriani served as the Colts Offensive Coordinator for three years under former Eagles Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich. Prior to that, Sirriani was the Quarterbacks Coach for the team that was formerly known as the San Diego Chargers, today known as the LA Chargers. He was the QB and WR’s Coach for the San Diego Chargers, also taking the role of Offensive Quality Coach.

From 2009 to 2012, Sirriani worked as the Offensive Quality Control Coach, Wide Receivers Coach and the Assistant Quarterbacks Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was taken under Frank Reich’s wing in Indianapolis as the Offensive Coordinator and the Eagles seem to think that he’s the team’s future. Sirriani helped former Chargers QB Philip Rivers when he struggled. Let’s hope he can do the same with Carson Wentz and possibly Jalen Hurts.

He’s already putting together a staff. The Eagles are hiring former Chargers Offensive Coordinator, Shane Steichen, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Sirriani and Steichen were both on the Chargers staff from 2014 to 2017. Steichen’s QB was Justin Herbert, who threw for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 touchdowns in 15 starts as a rookie. Maybe Steichen can get the best out of Wentz, who struggled this past season. The Eagles also hired former Colts Defensive Backs Coach Jonathan Gannon, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, to fill the void left by former Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz. Schwartz said he was taking a break from coaching this upcoming season and it’s unclear if he will be back in the foreseeable future.

Sirriani’s hire has also led to the departure of Running Backs Coach and Assistant Head Coach Duce Staley, who was also a head coaching candidate for the Eagles. He was loved by the players and was a fan favorite. His voice will certainly be missed in the Eagles’s locker room. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, he will join the Detroit Lions staff as an assistant head coach and RB coach, the same position he had with the Eagles.

Nick Sirriani has a lot of work to do. The locker room might be slow to welcome him with the loss of Staley and he has a QB controversy with Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts. However; a new coach might be a blessing for Wentz. Former Head Coach Doug Pederson and Wentz weren’t necessarily best friends. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, “Pederson would call a play only for his quarterback to occasionally kill it for no other reason than his personal distaste.” One thing is clear: Nick Sirriani has his work cut out for him to make the impending season a success.