Do Nick Sirianni’s Fiery Antics Alone Disqualify Him From Success With the Eagles?
Sixty years ago in 1964— a plane flew over Franklin Field during an Eagles Game with a banner fluttering behind it. This wasn’t some random Philadelphia advertising campaign or a flag flopping a positive message for the Philly team in the daytime breeze. This was the clear-cut message funded by the fans that read, “Joe Must Go.”
The Eagles were far removed from the team that won an NFL Championship on the same Franklin Field six years earlier — and spirited Head Coach Joe Kuharich was on the hot seat. Pacing up and down the sideline with his blue suit, tie, and hat and flailing his arms and looking for the water cooler for the occasional swig — Kuharich became famous for his animated sideline antics before finally marching in the other direction.
When your team is undefeated in Philly, you get a little slack. When your team ekes out a win against one of the worst AFC teams to move to one game above .500 after looking anemic over the last ten months with one of the most talented offenses in the NFL — you don’t. Last week, Nick Sirianni walked behind the Eagles sideline and once again began screaming at fans as the seconds ticked away in a 20–16 win over the Cleveland Browns.
In Nick Sirianni’s fourth season as Head Coach — we’ve seen the passion and fire that he brings to the Eagles sideline. In his second year, Sirianni’s 9–1 Eagles pulled off a comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts on the way to Super Bowl LVII. With seconds left in the game — Sirianni walked behind the sideline and started screaming at some fans behind the bench area. He evidentially didn’t get the message that this wasn’t the way to handle yourself.
In 1976 — an unruly fan at Veterans Stadium screamed at Eagles Head Coach Dick Vermeil as he was running out of the tunnel. Attempting to get into the stands after the fan — Vermeil was ironically restrained by former Eagles great Chuck Bednarik. After four seasons as Eagles Head Coach — Joe Kuharich was finally fired in 1968. His greatest fault — winning just enough to keep the Eagles out of the running for the top draft pick that year. He was a running back from USC named O.J. Simpson.
Nick Sirianni better put the headset back on, stay on the sideline, and keep winning. A lot of winning.
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