Eagles players show support for Sirianni amid job security speculation

There's speculation about Nick Sirianni's future as the Eagles' head coach after the team's 32-9 wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but several longtime Philadelphia players don't want the sideline boss going anywhere.

"He's a hell of a coach," Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata said Wednesday, according to Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports. "I don't understand that (job security speculation). Led us to playoffs three years. Took us to Super Bowl last year. That's gotta account for something."

Sirianni has posted a 36-20 record across three years as Philly's sideline boss, including the playoffs. The team made the postseason in each of those seasons and won the NFC during the 2022 campaign. However, after a 10-1 start in 2023, the Eagles regressed in the season's second half and lost six of their final seven games, a run that included the playoff defeat to Tampa Bay.

Eagles center and team captain Jason Kelce said he still has "faith" in Sirianni.

"I love Nick," Kelce said Wednesday, according to NBC Sports. "I think Nick's a great coach, I really do. ... Obviously, nobody was good enough this year. I wasn't. None of the players. None of the coaches were good enough down the stretch. That's the reality of this business, when you're that bad it's a collective thing."

Philadelphia returned most of the starters from its NFC-winning squad in 2023, but Sirianni's staff lost offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Eagles regressed on both sides of the ball this past season, especially on defense, ranking 30th in points allowed. Coordinator Sean Desai began the campaign as Philly's defensive play-caller but lost play-calling duties to Matt Patricia in December as Sirianni and Co. tried to solve the club's issues.

The Eagles' longtime defensive tackle Fletcher Cox called any speculation about Sirianni's future "crazy."

"He's the head coach of this team," he said. "There ain't even a f-----g discussion."

Cox added: "This man, he's a winner. He's a winning head coach. Did we have some bumps this year? Yeah, but every team, every organization, everybody goes through it. But we don't look at firing the man who, you know, obviously has won 10-plus games two years in a row. That's taken this organization to three playoff appearances, three years in a row. You know, that's respect."

Sirianni isn't the only member of the Eagles whose future is uncertain in 2024. It was reported that Kelce has told his teammates he's retiring from football after 13 seasons. The 36-year-old recently denied the report, saying he has yet to make a final decision about his future.

Cox and longtime defensive end Brandon Graham - whose contracts expire in March - are also contemplating what's next for their football careers. Graham recently said he hopes to return for a final season with the Eagles.