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Nick Sirianni

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Nick Sirianni
refer to caption
Sirianni with the Eagles in 2022
Philadelphia Eagles
Position:Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1981-06-15) June 15, 1981 (age 43)
Jamestown, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Southwestern Central
College:Mount Union (1999–2003)
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Head coaching record
Regular season:42–19 (.689)
Postseason:2–3 (.400)
Career:44–22 (.667)
Record at Pro Football Reference

Nicholas John Sirianni (born June 15, 1981) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020 and as a coach of the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers from 2013 to 2017 and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009 to 2012.

Early life and education

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Sirianni was born on June 15, 1981, in Jamestown, New York, the son of Fran and Amy Sirianni. His father was the head coach at Southwestern Central High School in West Ellicott, New York, where Nick graduated in 1999.[1] He is of Italian descent through his father with roots in Calabria.[2] He was raised Catholic.[3]

Sirianni played wide receiver at Division III Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, winning national championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.[4] Though a calf injury and compartment syndrome nearly ended his playing career as a sophomore,[5] Sirianni started for three years.[4] As a senior in 2003, he had 998 yards and 13 touchdowns[6] and graduated with a degree in education.[7]

He played one season for the Canton Legends of the American Indoor Football League.[6]

Career

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College coaching

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Sirianni began coaching as the defensive backs coach at Mount Union, his alma mater.[8] After one season of coaching Mount Union, he was hired by Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pennsylvania, where he coached wide receivers for three seasons.[9]

Kansas City Chiefs

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In 2009, Sirianni was hired as offensive quality control coach for the Kansas City Chiefs by Todd Haley, the new head coach of the Chiefs.[6] Sirianni and Haley got to know each other when they attended the same YMCA when Sirianni was in college and Haley was wide receivers coach for the Chicago Bears.[10] Sirianni was retained under new coach Romeo Crennel and was promoted to wide receivers coach in Crennel's only season as the Chiefs head coach. Sirianni was not retained under new head coach Andy Reid.[11][12]

San Diego Chargers

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Sirianni joined the San Diego Chargers when Mike McCoy was hired as the team's head coach in 2013.[13] In 2014 he became the team's quarterbacks coach, working with quarterback Philip Rivers and offensive coordinator Frank Reich.[4] In 2016, Sirianni became the wide receivers coach.[13]

Indianapolis Colts

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After Reich became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, he hired Sirianni as offensive coordinator.[14] Sirianni developed a close relationship with Reich, though unlike some head coaches, Reich chose to call the team's plays rather than delegate the responsibility to Sirianni.[15] During his three years as offensive coordinator with the Colts, Sirianni had a different starting quarterback each year, working with Andrew Luck, Jacoby Brissett, and Philip Rivers. The Colts made the playoffs twice and finished 10th, 19th, and 12th in offensive DVOA, a measure of offensive success.[4]

Philadelphia Eagles

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On January 24, 2021, Sirianni was hired to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles after the firing of Doug Pederson.[16][17] Two months later, the Eagles traded quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts, leaving former second-round pick Jalen Hurts as the presumed starter.[18] Sirianni put together a staff of young coaches, including defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, both of whom had previously worked with Sirianni. Although much of Pederson's staff was replaced, Sirianni retained veteran offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.[19]

On September 12, 2021, Sirianni made his regular-season head coaching debut against the Atlanta Falcons and led the Eagles to a 32–6 win.[20] Despite a 2–5 start, Sirianni concluded his first season as head coach with a 9–8 record and a wild card berth.[21] The Eagles lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31–15, who themselves would lose the following week.[22] Sirianni was the only first-year coach to lead a team to the playoffs in the 2021 NFL season,[23] and the third Eagles head coach to make the playoffs in their first year as head coach, joining Chip Kelly in 2013 and Ray Rhodes in 1995.[24]

The 2022 Eagles compiled a 14–3 record in the regular season, earning the NFC East division championship and a first-round bye in the playoffs.[25] The Eagles became the first team since the 1989 Minnesota Vikings to record at least 70 sacks,[26] led the league in fewest passing yards allowed, and set a franchise record for wins and points scored in a season.[27] In the playoffs, Sirianni led the Eagles to their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history after a 38–7 Divisional Round playoff victory against the New York Giants, and a 31–7 NFC Championship win against the San Francisco 49ers.[28][29] The Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII 38–35.[30]

During the 2023 NFL offseason, Sirianni lost both offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, both of whom received head coaching jobs with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals respectively.[31] The 2023 Eagles once again compiled a 10–1 regular season record to start the season, but experienced a late season slide and finished with a 1–5 record under Sirianni and ultimately lost out on the NFC East Division title and the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs to the Dallas Cowboys on the last week of the season.[32] Sirianni became the first head coach in NFL to experience a 1–5 record to end the season and make the playoffs. The Eagles were ultimately eliminated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round of the 2023 NFL Playoffs.[33] Sirianni was widely blamed for both the offensive and defensive regression of the Eagles in 2023.[34] In particular, Sirianni caused a significant controversy when he removed defensive coordinator Sean Desai from defensive play calling and passed them onto former New England Patriots defensive coordinator and Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia, a move that ultimately backfired and led the Eagles to finish second to last in total defense.[35][36] Sirianni ultimately fired Desai, Patricia, and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson after the Eagles season ended.[37][38]

In week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, Sirianni was widely criticized for throwing the ball on 3rd and 3 at the Atlanta 10 yard line up 18-15, where the pass fell incomplete, giving Atlanta time to march down the field and secure the victory.[39] After a week 6 home victory over the Cleveland Browns, Sirianni drew criticism for having a shouting match against the Eagles' fans in attendance behind the team's sideline.[40][41] While the Eagles were on the field in victory formation, TV cameras showed that Sirianni walked behind the bench, put an index finger to his right ear then shouted words that could not be heard from afar[42] but were interpreted as, "I can't hear you."[40][43] Sirianni refused to go into any detail on what precipitated his post-game antics.[40]

Head coaching record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
PHI 2021 9 8 0 .529 2nd in NFC East 0 1 .000 Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFC Wild Card Game
PHI 2022 14 3 0 .824 1st in NFC East 2 1 .667 Lost to Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII
PHI 2023 11 6 0 .647 2nd in NFC East 0 1 .000 Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFC Wild Card Game
PHI 2024 9 2 0 .800
Total 42 19 0 .689 2 3 .400

Coaching tree

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Sirianni has served under seven head coaches:

Two of Sirianni's coaching assistants have become head coaches in the NFL:

Personal life

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He is married to Brett Ashley Sirianni with whom he has three children; the two met when Nick was working for the Kansas City Chiefs.[46] His father, Fran, and his brother Jay are both former head coaches of Southwestern Central High School, and his brother Mike Sirianni is the head coach at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania.[47][48][49]

During an interview with Rich Eisen, Sirianni revealed that he grew up a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, owing to his family having roots in the Pittsburgh area.[50]

References

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  1. ^ "Parents of new Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni talk to Action News". 6abc Philadelphia. January 22, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Orr, Conor (February 10, 2023). "This Is How the Sirianni Family's Coaching Dynasty Was Born". Sports Illustrated.
  3. ^ Benjamin, Cody (January 26, 2021). "Nick Sirianni's rapid rise to Eagles coach: Inside the journey, plus why he might be the next Kevin Stefanski". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Berman, Zach (January 30, 2021). "Who is Nick Sirianni? Everything we know on the Philadelphia Eagles new head coach". The Athletic. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Kaye, Mike (January 23, 2021). "How Nick Sirianni came out of nowhere to become Eagles head coach". NJ.com. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Frank, Reuben (January 21, 2021). "5 Things to Know About Eagles' New Head Coach Nick Sirianni". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  7. ^ Breer, Albert (May 17, 2021). "MMQB: Meet the Man Who'll Unlock the Eagles". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  8. ^ Jackson, Zac (January 27, 2023). "Nick Sirianni, Matt Campbell and the small-college power that shaped their football futures". The Athletic. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Holder, Stephen (January 22, 2021). "Nick Sirianni tried to run away from coaching but failed". The Athletic. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  10. ^ McMullen, John (January 7, 2022). "Nick Sirianni Benefactor Todd Haley Named a Head Coach in USFL Reboot". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "The Sirianni Family's Football Story Now Includes A Trip To The Super Bowl". The Post-Journal. January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Kerr, Jeff (February 3, 2023). "Super Bowl 2023: Andy Reid thinks Nick Sirianni is 'perfect for Philadelphia,' reflects on time with Eagles". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Williams, Eric D. (February 13, 2018). "Chargers have void to fill with Nick Sirianni headed to Indianapolis". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  14. ^ Stano, Ryan (June 20, 2019). "Colts OC Nick Sirianni will be even better in year two". Horseshoe Heroes. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Ayello, Jim (January 22, 2021). "Insider: What Colts are losing and the Eagles getting in Nick Sirianni". IndyStar. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "Rookie head coach Nick Sirianni leads Eagles into camp". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. July 24, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  17. ^ Berman, Zach (July 27, 2021). "Nick Sirianni is bringing a taste of his hometown to the Philadelphia Eagles: 'Remember where you're from'". The Athletic. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  18. ^ McMullen, John (March 17, 2021). "Nick Sirianni Sees 'a Leader Who Loves Football' in Jalen Hurts". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Berman, Zach (February 12, 2021). "Nick Sirianni's Eagles coaching staff: New faces, youth, less playing experience". The Athletic. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Alper, Josh (September 13, 2021). "Nick Sirianni: Jalen Hurts was in "complete control" of the offense". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  21. ^ Berman, Zach (July 18, 2022). "Eagles coach Nick Sirianni keeping it fresh in Year 2 as he aims to build on last season". The Athletic. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  22. ^ "Wild Card – Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – January 16th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  23. ^ Zangaro, Dave (January 11, 2022). "From butt of jokes to playoffs, no one is laughing at Sirianni anymore". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  24. ^ Elbaba, Julia (February 6, 2023). "Five interesting facts about Eagles coach Nick Sirianni". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  25. ^ Gordon, Grant (January 8, 2023). "Eagles clinch NFC East title, No. 1 seed with win over Giants". NFL.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Holzman-Escareno, Anthony (January 9, 2023). "NFL stats and records, Week 18: Bucs' Tom Brady sets single-season mark for attempts, completions". NFL.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Macy, Evan (January 9, 2023). "10 numbers that explain the Eagles success this season". PhillyVoice. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  28. ^ Morgan, Emmanuel (January 22, 2023). "Giants' Surprising Season Ends With a Dominant Eagles Win". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  29. ^ Morgan, Emmanuel (January 29, 2023). "N.F.C. Championship: Eagles Beat 49ers, 31–7, to Claim Spot in the Super Bowl". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  30. ^ Morgan, Emmanuel (February 12, 2023). "How Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Captured the Super Bowl Over Philadelphia". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  31. ^ Leonard, Pat (February 14, 2023). "Eagles lose both coordinators to Colts & Cardinals head coaching jobs, while Giants keep Martindale, Kafka". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  32. ^ Tornoe, Rob (January 7, 2024). "Eagles end up NFC's No. 5 playoff seed after Cowboys win NFC East". Inquirer.com. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  33. ^ Schwab, Frank (January 16, 2024). "10-1 to 1-and-done: Eagles' unbelievable collapse is complete after loss to Buccaneers". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  34. ^ Zeglinski, Robert (January 16, 2024). "The Eagles' Super Bowl pursuit burst into flames because Nick Sirianni lost control of his team". For The Win. USA Today. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  35. ^ Kracz, Ed (December 17, 2023). "Patricia Taking Over, Though Desai Remains Eagles Defensive Coordinator". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  36. ^ Frank, Martin (January 23, 2024). "Eagles purging coordinators as Brian Johnson, DCs leaving. What it means for Nick Siranni". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 23, 2024 – via Delaware News Journal.
  37. ^ Ignudo, Tom (January 21, 2024). "Both Sean Desai, Matt Patricia won't return to Philadelphia Eagles' coaching staff: reports". CBS News - Philadelphia. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  38. ^ Dougherty, Tom (January 23, 2024). "Brian Johnson out as Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator in 2024: CBS Sports". CBS News - Philadelphia. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  39. ^ Salao, Renzo Pocholo (September 17, 2024). "Nick Sirianni explains costly questionable decision against Falcons". Yardbarker. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  40. ^ a b c Frank, Reuben (October 14, 2024). "'I was having fun:' Nick Sirianni discusses wacko behavior at end of Browns win". nbcsportsphiladelphia.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  41. ^ Kerr, Jeff (October 14, 2024). "Nick Sirianni tells off Eagles fans after win over Browns, creating another controversy that shouldn't exist". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  42. ^ Kubena, Brooks (October 13, 2024). "Unapologetic Nick Sirianni's chirping with Eagles fans steals attention yet again". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  43. ^ Douglas, Stephen (October 14, 2024). "Damien Woody Blasts 'Clown' Nick Sirianni for Talking Trash to Philly Fans". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  44. ^ Kracz, Ed (February 14, 2021). "Nick Sirianni's Coaching Tree Begins to Sprout". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  45. ^ Bowen, Kevin (February 14, 2023). "A Background Look At New Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen". 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  46. ^ Bausman, Chuck (February 1, 2023). "Love connection: Sirianni met future wife and got his first NFL job in KC". Iggles.com. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  47. ^ Carucci, Vic (January 29, 2021). "Nick Sirianni takes family coaching legacy from Jamestown to highest level with Eagles". Buffalo News. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  48. ^ Zangaro, Dave (January 22, 2021). "New Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni finally catching up to his brothers". RSN. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  49. ^ Tuscano, Joe (February 3, 2023). "Sirianni brothers: a coaching triad". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  50. ^ Adamski, Chris (October 29, 2022). "With family roots in Natrona Heights, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni grew up fan of Pittsburgh sports". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
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