NEW ORLEANS — Remember back when he was hired, and he sounded a bit strange at his introductory news conference?
Nick Sirianni laughs about that nowadays and hopes, someday, it can be put to bed and no one brings it up ever again.
He probably is in a good place with that.
Head coaches who win a Super Bowl do not have to worry about much, as far as how they came in the door.
In some ways, it is difficult to recall that, one year ago, Sirianni was under fire for a late-season collapse that ended with an embarrassing first-round playoff ouster for the Eagles.
One year later, Sirianni and the Eagles are atop the NFL mountain, finishing the climb with Sunday night’s decisive 40-22 rout of the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025 at the Caesars Superdome.
Sirianni, at 43 years old, had his team more than ready to play as the Eagles took on a Chiefs dynasty that won two straight Super Bowls and three in a five-year span.
There was no doubt which side was stronger, better prepared and more ready from the opening kickoff.
“That’s a great football team,’’ Sirianni said on the podium as confetti fell, “and we had to come out and play our best. We have selfless guys, we have guys who will fight for each other and love each other.’’
Sirianni shed tears before the 2023 Super Bowl, so overcome was he with emotion.
That is who he is.
He can irritate opponents with what can be seen as a brash style, and that did not work well down the stretch of last season as the Eagles imploded after a 10-1 start to the season, with Sirianni castigated for allowing it to happen.
The Eagles reloaded — most notably adding Saquon Barkley — and Sirianni in his fourth year as a head coach blossomed into a more capable and consistent leader.
The Eagles went 14-3 in the regular season and prevented the Chiefs from winning a third consecutive Super Bowl, which had never been done before and still has not been done.
As the final seconds of a drama-less victory ticked away, Sirianni glanced skyward, considering what he had just accomplished.
“Just all glory to God; he gives us the talents to be in these situations and blessed our team with talents, blessed myself with talent to be able to coach football,’’ Sirianni said.
There was pressure on the Eagles this time around, more than there was two years ago, when they were an upstart team and put up a great fight in a 38-35 loss in the Super Bowl.
Given how strong the Eagles were this past season and how the Lions, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, were devastated on defense and beaten in the division round, the road to the Super Bowl was paved nicely for Sirianni.
Once he got through the preliminaries, he and his team delivered with a sensational performance.
Of course, there was a bit of intrigue with Sirianni.
It was 17-0 and the Eagles were in control when a third-down pass from Jalen Hurts intended for A.J. Brown misfired badly, with Brown not breaking off his route and Hurts’ pass falling far behind him.
As Brown walked off the field, he turned and said something to Sirianni and then turned his back.
Sirianni shot back with some words for Brown.
Problem?
No, sir.
Soon enough, the Eagles had the ball back, and Brown was hauling in a 12-yard touchdown pass.
It was 24-0 and the rout was on.
It is notable that it was Brown, along with receiver DeVonta Smith, who doused Sirianni with the traditional Gatorade shower.
Sirianni is 48-20 in the regular season and now has one Super Bowl loss and one Super Bowl victory in a three-year span on his résumé.
Expect a substantial contract extension awaiting him.
“I’ll be shedding a couple of happy tears tonight,’’ Sirianni said. “A lot of work went into this.”
