Why 2024 Is Make Or Break for Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts.
Fourty-five years ago in 1979 — in year four of Dick Vermeil’s tenure in Philadelphia — an Eagles team that had not been relevant in the NFL since 1960 and had never beaten the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium — had a difficult mid-season game in Texas. Unlike Sirianni, Dick Vermeil didn’t inherit the foundation of a Super Bowl roster. Vermeil built the Eagles back up from the bottom. Now it was time to challenge the class of the NFC — the Dallas Cowboys.
On the Saturday night before the game, Vermeil held a meeting with the team in the hotel. He stood before his eager football team and spoke firmly, “What will it take to beat the Dallas Cowboys? Just another 24 hours.”
Head Coach Dick Vermeil then turned and walked out of the room with one foot in front of the other. What he conveyed in those moments was a message to his team that they were ready. They just had to execute.
You might think that ousting a Head Coach at the prime of his career after three straight playoff appearances, one Super Bowl, and five playoff games in a three-year career would be foolish. But these reasons for Sirianni’s possible departure may be key discussion points in January if things don’t go the Eagles way.
A Support System — The first thing that you do when a professional is struggling is to bring a support around them. Gone are the disastrous defense combination of Matt Patricia and Sean Desai. Veteran defensive mind Vic Fangio and innovative offense coordinator Kellen Moore now support Nick Sirianni. It is now widely reported around the NFL that Sirianni actually called the plays in 2023–2024 and not embattled Jalen Hurts’ favorite Coach Brian Johnson. The Eagles now have the best support system of coaches in the Nick Sirianni Era this year.
Slippage — The Eagles slippage began in the second half of Super Bowl LVII with the Eagles up 24–14 and facing an injured Patrick Mahomes. It continued with an uphill slog in 11 games last year playing each game close to eke out a 10–1 record and falling to a 1–6 record after. If the Eagles begin with a poor start this year, look for the confidence in Sirianni to fade.
Re-Stocking the Cupboard — It’s been a typical Howie Roseman offseason. The Eagles have spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars in order to provide the best product possible on the field.
Two contract extensions for both Devonta Smith (3-year, $75 Million) and AJ Brown (3-year, $96 Million) and the signing of All-Pro and former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley (3-year $37.75 Million) having already placed the Eagles as an 18–1 favorites to win a Lombardi in 2025.
The Eagles signed former Jets linebacker Bryce Huff to a three-year, $51.1 Million deal the undrafted free agent out of Memphis in 2020 as well as former Wisconsin star Zach Baun from the Saints, former 49ers linebacker Oren Burks, and safety CJ Gardner-Johnson also returned to the team. Offensive lineman Matt Hennessy was also signed by Philly.
The Eagles also earned one of the best grades in the NFL at the Draft by adding key talent, with all draft picks now signed as of June 6th. In the first round they drafted Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. In the second round, they added another defensive back Cooper DeJean. In the third round they drafted Jalyx Hunt an outside linebacker from Houston Christian. In the fourth round, they drafted Will Shipley from Clemson. In the fifth round, the Eagles added wide receiver Ainais Smith from Texas A&M, Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. from Clemson, and Guard Trevor Keegan from Michigan. Philadelphia’s draft selections ended in the sixth round with wide receiver Johnny Wilson from Florida State, Guard/Center Dylan McMahon from NC State.
A Matter of Trust — It’s been speculated that the relationship between Hurts and Sirianni has been frayed. If things go south this season early, are the Eagles are more likely to part with Sirianni than the investment of $255 Million Jalen Hurts — the leader of their offense?
If expectations are met in Philadelphia this season, and the Eagles are giving us reasons to cheer long into the brisk winter chill of February — trust and elation will envelop the Delaware Valley and this conversation will be lost. If not, many of these reasons may be crucial for a January decision for Jeffrey Lurie about the more important piece to the Eagles puzzle to retain. The long-term investment of a high-dollar franchise quarterback or the team’s grand architect.
Let’s hope its the first one.
And that Eagles team of Dick Vermeil’s away in Dallas for a mid-season road game in 1979? They not only one that one, but would beat the Cowboys again a year later in the NFC Championship in one of the greatest games in Eagles history.
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