Julian Love has had harsh words for Eagles coach Nick Sirianni. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
New York Giants safety Julian Love doesn’t want to give Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni too much credit for the team’s Super Bowl run.
Love told NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Thursday that Sirianni is “doing a really great job because he’s not getting in the way of his team,” but added that the Eagles coach is “right now off” because of how well Philadephia’s roster is built.
Soon after the clip went viral on social media, Eagles defenseman Brandon Graham responded to Love’s comments and defended his coach. Graham and the Eagles beat Love and Giants, 38-7, in the NFC divisional round on January 21.
“People always have something to say when they’re at home,” Graham said. “I just know that coach Sirianni – it doesn’t matter – what he did last year, with a team that nobody thought would do much, ended up taking us to the playoffs. Then for his second year, this is what’ you should be doing – you should be improving, engaging players to do exactly what you need them to do and we did.”
Love doubled down on her comments soon after Graham spoke.
“Philly fans sure don’t like this lol…but I’m not wrong,” he said tweeted. “This is a league of players, and Philly has dogs on the roster from top to bottom. It’s no mystery why they’re in this position.”
It’s no secret that the Eagles have one of the most talented teams in the NFL. That’s why they’re headed to the Super Bowl to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The team went 14-3 and earned the No. 1 seed. 1 in the NFC with the third-best offense and eighth-best defense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is an MVP finalist, the offense features two cleats at wide receiver in AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, and the defense is littered with playmakers.
So sure, Sirianni might have an easier time than other coaches with one of the best rosters in the league. But the same could be said of the Chiefs’ roster, and no one questions Andy Reid’s legitimacy.
And there are many impressive rosters whose coaches have fallen short of expectations. Eagles fans will surely remember Philadelphia’s self-anointed “dream team” from 2011 with – who else – Reid as head coach. That team spiraled, and Reid was fired two years later before the Chiefs hired him in 2013.
Coaches don’t win by accident. Not in the NFL. Sirianni may have an advantage over other teams due to his personnel. But that’s down to his staff and General Manager Howie Roseman more than anything.
