Eagles To Fire Nick Sirianni

The upcoming matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs is particularly intriguing given the Eagles’ recent performance in the regular season. The defending NFC champions are at risk of being associated with Super Bowl-losing hangovers, making this playoff opener a significant event.

There are speculations about staff changes within the Eagles, and it’s probable that they will have their third defensive coordinator in three years soon. However, the top decision-maker, Nick Sirianni, is reportedly not on the hot seat, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. This remains true even if the Eagles lose to the No. 4-seeded Buccaneers, who secured a home game with a 9-8 record in a weak NFC South division.

Despite the defensive challenges faced by Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts has not progressed following his breakthrough campaign. Playing through injuries this season, Hurts has seen a decline in his overall performance, particularly in increased interceptions. The quarterback, recently extended, did not receive a Pro Bowl invitation, and there are reports of a disconnect between Hurts and the offensive staff.

The Eagles made changes to the coaching staff, replacing play-caller Shane Steichen with Hurts’ position coach, Brian Johnson. Johnson, who has a long history with Hurts, has received multiple head coach interview requests, but the Eagles are entering the playoffs in a less-than-ideal state. Hurts is reportedly frustrated with the team’s overreliance on vertical routes, and injuries to key players add pressure to the situation.

Some attribute the Hurts-staff disconnect to the change in offensive coordinators, with Johnson trying to adapt his concepts to Sirianni’s scheme. This situation draws parallels to the Panthers’ struggles, where a mismatch between OC Thomas Brown’s philosophy and Frank Reich’s scheme contributed to their downfall. While the Eagles are in a better position than the Panthers, their puzzling fall from a 10-1 start to the No. 5 seed is concerning.

Sirianni’s decision to demote Sean Desai and delegate responsibilities to Matt Patricia has not yielded improvements. Despite initial relief among some defensive players, locker-room tension has led to multiple players-only meetings. While the Eagles’ chances of defending their NFC title seem grim, Sirianni has previously led the team on a surprise playoff journey in 2021. However, the team’s December and January struggles are likely to shape the upcoming offseason, unless they manage a remarkable turnaround against the Buccaneers in Round 1.