Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has always gone about his business in his own way, even if he ends up rubbing some people the wrong way as a result. As FOX Sports reporter Charissa Thompson put it, he “gets more attention for the drama… than [his] winning.”
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But that’s never fazed him from doing what he needs to do. And there’s a surprising reason why does what he does —his kids.
Sirianni has some letters pinned on the wall in his office. His favorite is one from his son telling him to “remember what dog mentality means.”
To Sirianni, the “dog mentality” involves being yourself – no matter what detractors say – and not getting dissuaded by mistakes. This is directly responsible for his enhanced desire to bring home the Lombardi Trophy.
“I’m not what people envision as a head coach… the approval you seek is of your players and the people in the building, not the outside world… be who you are… I was hungry last time, but I’m starving now,” he told NFL ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
Sirianni is the first coach to make multiple Super Bowl appearances with the Eagles. He — along with general manager Howie Roseman— has been instrumental in building a roster considered among the NFL’s best. Sirianni has successfully united a collection of talented individuals, transforming them into a cohesive and high-performing team, thriving within a winning culture.
Siranni’s superstar running back, Saquon Barkley, has a drawing from his daughter that serves the same purpose for him. It inspires him to get through bad days.
Clearly, their children’s inspiration has helped catapult the Eagles to championship glory, and exorcise the demons from two years ago.
Sirianni reflects on earlier Super Bowl LVII loss
Two seasons ago. they heartbreakingly lost 38-35 to the Chiefs at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona.
Some people would flush the tape on the defeat to move forward and regroup for the next campaign. Sirianni didn’t do that. Instead, he forced himself to face the defeat fair and square in an effort to learn from it.
“I think it’s healthy to drag yourself through the mud and say, ‘here’s what I messed up’… you can’t close your eyes to adversity. You have to stare it in the face and you have to figure out what you can do better from it. Because we embrace the adversity… we got better from it. If you let adversity shape you, it will.”
Clearly, it hasn’t.
