He got the job done and now it is time for the payoff. There was no way, no how, the Philadelphia Eagles were going to allow coach Nick Sirianni to become a lame-duck with no security, entering the final season of his deal in 2025.
Not after he led the Eagles to the promise land, their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, and second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons, and not after he has led the Eagles to the postseason in each of his four years at the helm.
And now the Eagles put pen to paper and made it happen, inking Sirianni to a multi-year extension on Monday, May 19. While terms were not made public, it is believed that Sirianni’s contract will become one of the most lucrative in the NFL, and a monumental raise from the $7 million per season he was reportedly earning when he was hired in January 2021, replacing Doug Pederson.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid is believed to be leading the pack and the highest paid, at $20 million per season, which is understandable because he has won three Super Bowls with the organization.
Following him are the Broncos’ Sean Payton, Steelers’ Mike Tomlin and Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh, all making $16 million or more.
Sirianni’s win/loss record speaks for itself.
He has amassed the highest winning percentage in Eagles history among coaches. And at 48-20 in the regular season, Sirianni is second in victories among NFL coaches through their first four seasons.
He also has the third-highest winning percentage (.706) of the Super Bowl era in the regular season behind Hall of Famers John Madden and George Allen (minimum of 50 games). He is in elite company.
“As an organization, we have always strived to create a championship culture of sustained success,” Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to fostering such an environment than having tremendous leadership. Nick has embodied everything we were looking for in a head coach since we hired him four years ago. His authentic style of leadership, football intelligence, passion for the game, and growth mindset have helped to bring out the best in our team. I am excited for what the future holds for the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Embed from Getty ImagesLurie made it clear at the NFL owners’ meetings early last month in Palm Beach, Florida, that he was going to give Sirianni an extension. It was just a matter of when, not if.
“Superb job. Nick’s going to be our coach,” Lurie said then.
Lurie went on to say how Sirianni helped turn the team around from a 2-2 start last season to finishing 16-1, culminating in the 40-22 blowout win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
“It’s not easy to go 16-1 in the National Football League, four of which are against playoff teams,” Lurie added back in April. “So, outstanding job. Everything that I had hoped for with Nick, he embodies. Whether it’s connection, or intelligence in so many ways from football intelligence, emotional intelligence, managing of people, hiring of assistant coaches, growth mindset at all times.”
It was a dramatic turnaround for Sirianni after the 2023 season, when the Eagles fell on their faces to a 1-6 finish after a 10-1 start, and Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman waited more than a week before making it official that Sirianni would stay on as head coach.
During that time of uncertainty, Lurie and Roseman had a meeting with Bill Belichick, who had just mutually parted ways with the New England Patriots after 24 years, although neither Lurie nor Roseman said the discussions had to do with the head coaching job.
Still, that period also included possible issues between Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts. By coming back in 2023, Sirianni gave up control of the offense by hiring Kellen Moore to run it, making Sirianni more of a CEO coach that looks over everything.
Obviously, that worked, as the Eagles won the Super Bowl, led by running back Saquon Barkley rushing for an NFL record 2,504 yards, including playoffs. Moore, however, left to become the New Orleans Saints head coach. He was replaced by Kevin Patullo, a longtime friend and colleague of Sirianni’s going back to when they were on the Indianapolis Colts’ staff in 2018 under Frank Reich.
Moore became the third coordinator to leave for a head coaching job since the end of the 2022 campaign. Shane Steichen is the Colts’ head coach, and Jonathan Gannon is the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach.
Through all the changes and turmoil, Sirianni has survived and lived to tell about it. And now he will be handsomely rewarded. Lurie even made a bold prediction about Sirianni’s future back in April.
“Everything I had hoped for early on identifying Nick as the next head coach has come to pass,” Lurie said. “He has a great growth mindset. He’ll get better.”
