Nick Sirianni: Why the Philadelphia Eagles Coach Is Facing a Crossroads in 2026

Nick Sirianni: Why the Philadelphia Eagles Coach Is Facing a Crossroads in 2026

If you’re walking down Broad Street today asking who is coach of Philadelphia Eagles, you’re going to get a name that sparks an immediate, heated debate: Nick Sirianni.

Honestly, being the head coach in Philly is a lot like being a meteorologist in a hurricane zone. People only care about you when the roof starts leaking. Right now, in early 2026, the roof isn't exactly falling in, but there are definitely some drips. Sirianni just finished his fifth season at the helm, and while his resume looks like something out of a Madden simulation, the vibe around the NovaCare Complex is... well, it’s complicated.

He’s the guy who delivered a Super Bowl LIX ring just about a year ago. You’d think that would buy him a lifetime of free cheesesteaks and zero criticism. But this is Philadelphia. Memories are short, and the 2025 season—which ended with an 11-6 record and a frustrating Wild Card exit—has fans looking at Sirianni with a raised eyebrow.

The State of the Sideline: Is Nick Sirianni Still the Answer?

Last Thursday, January 15, 2026, Sirianni sat next to GM Howie Roseman for the annual "what went wrong" press conference. It was a long 25 minutes. The big news? Kevin Patullo is out as offensive coordinator.

It's a classic Philly move. When the offense stutters, someone has to take the fall. Patullo was the architect of a red-zone offense that statistically was the best in franchise history (scoring touchdowns over 70% of the time), yet Sirianni basically said the team needs to "evolve."

That’s the keyword for 2026: Evolve.

🔗 Read more: Inter Miami vs Toronto: What Really Happened in Their Recent Clashes

Sirianni is a weird case. His career record is a staggering 59-26. That’s a .694 winning percentage. For context, that puts him in the stratosphere of all-time greats. He’s made the playoffs in every single year he’s been the coach. But there’s this lingering feeling that he’s more of a "CEO coach" than a tactical mastermind. When the team wins, people credit the talent. When they lose, they blame his lack of play-calling duties.

The 2025 Season Reality Check

The Eagles actually clinched the NFC East again in 2025. They were the first team to repeat as division champs since the mid-2000s. On paper, it was a success.

  • Saquon Barkley was a monster again, hitting 1,000 yards for the second straight year.
  • A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both cleared 1,000 yards.
  • The defense, led by Vic Fangio, was actually a top-5 unit in points allowed.

So why the drama? Because they lost 23-19 to the 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field in the Wild Card round. In Philly, a home playoff loss is treated like a city-wide tragedy. The offense looked stale when it mattered most, and Jalen Hurts—despite all the love Sirianni pours on him—looked human.

Who Is Calling the Shots Now?

The search for a new offensive coordinator is the biggest story in the city right now. Sirianni admitted he got "more involved" in the offense toward the end of the 2025 season because he felt he had to. That’s a telling admission. It suggests he wasn't happy with the direction things were going under Patullo.

Names like Brian Daboll and Mike McDaniel are already flying around the rumor mill. The Eagles are looking for someone who can maximize Jalen Hurts' unique skill set while bringing some of that "new age" offensive creativity that teams like the Lions or Niners seem to have in spades.

💡 You might also like: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry

Sirianni mentioned they want to "cast a wide net." Translation: Howie Roseman is probably looking for a brilliant young mind to pair with his head coach.

What People Get Wrong About Sirianni

A lot of folks think Nick is just a "vibes" guy. They see him yelling at opposing fans or getting fired up on the sideline and assume there’s no substance there. But you don't go 59-26 by accident. He’s built a culture where players actually like coming to work.

Take a look at the locker room interviews from earlier this week. Jalen Hurts, Jordan Mailata, and even the young guys like Quinyon Mitchell—they all back him. In a league where coaches lose the locker room in a heartbeat (just look at what happened in Dallas or New York this year), Sirianni’s ability to keep the ship steady is a massive asset.

The Road Ahead for the Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles

2026 is going to be a defining year. The Eagles have the talent. They have the core. They have a GM in Howie Roseman who isn't afraid to set the roster on fire if he thinks it makes them 1% better.

Sirianni is under a microscope now. He has to prove he can adapt. If the new offensive coordinator comes in and the offense still looks "predictable," the seat is going to get very hot, very fast.

📖 Related: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season

Basically, the "who is coach of Philadelphia Eagles" question has a simple answer today: Nick Sirianni. But the quality of that answer depends entirely on how he handles this upcoming OC search and whether he can get Jalen Hurts back to that 2024 MVP-level form.

Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason:

  1. Watch the OC Hire: This is the most important decision of Sirianni's tenure since he was hired. If they land a big fish like Daboll, it signals a massive shift in how the offense will operate.
  2. Monitor the Jalen Hurts Connection: Sirianni's biggest job is managing his relationship with his $250 million quarterback. If those two aren't in sync, the rest of the roster doesn't matter.
  3. Draft Focus: The defense was solid in 2025, but the aging lines on both sides of the ball need fresh blood. Expect Howie to be aggressive in the first round.
  4. The "Evolve" Factor: Look for more pre-snap motion and varied personnel groupings in the 2026 preseason. If it looks the same as 2025, be worried.

The Eagles aren't in a rebuild—they're in a refinement phase. Sirianni has the ring, he has the wins, and he has the job. For now. In Philadelphia, "for now" is the only guarantee you ever get.


Next Step for Eagles Fans: Keep a close eye on the scheduled interview with Brian Daboll this Friday; it could be the first domino to fall in a very busy Philadelphia offseason.