In 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles experienced a disappointing end to their season. Despite starting with a strong record of 10-1, they faltered and were unable to regain their momentum in the playoffs. Despite these struggles, Stephen A. Smith remains steadfast in his belief that Nick Sirianni is the top head coach in the NFC East division. During a discussion on “First Take,” Smith argued that Sirianni should be given leniency for the challenges faced this season. He highlighted Sirianni’s overall record as a head coach, which stands at 34-17. Smith’s confidence in Sirianni’s abilities sets him apart from other NFC East coaches.
Smith acknowledged the obstacles the Eagles faced, including the loss of both their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching positions in the offseason. Additionally, Jalen Hurts, the team’s quarterback, was injured for a significant portion of the year. The team’s secondary also suffered from a depletion of talent due to free agency and injuries. Smith emphasized the significance of the Eagles’ decision to replace their offensive coordinator with Kellen Moore, who may have felt deserving of the head coaching position for the Dallas Cowboys instead of Mike McCarthy. Smith believes that Moore’s familiarity with McCarthy and his offensive strategy will motivate him to outperform the Cowboys. Furthermore, the departure of Dan Quinn further solidifies Sirianni’s advantageous position compared to other NFC East head coaches.
While Smith’s perspective is logical, it remains uncertain how long the Eagles’ front office will support Sirianni if he fails to turn things around early in the upcoming season.