This Eagles-centric edition of “What I’m Hearing” comes out of a conversation I had with Chase Daniel on Friday’s episode of the “Scoop City” Podcast. Even after a late-season collapse, things aren’t necessarily bad in Philly. But they are definitely different heading into 2024. Here’s what I’m hearing…
On the Nick Sirianni-Jalen Hurts dynamic
We’ve seen Jalen Hurts on the sideline with Nick Sirianni, and they were not going at one another. But there is definitely a difference in personality. The way I would describe it: The relationship is still a work in progress. Last year there was some disconnect between them, due to their personalities. Nick, we’ve seen, is a very emotional guy. Jalen is a very private guy. They are different human beings, which is fine. You don’t all have to be the same, but you do have to be on the same page when it comes to what you want to do on offense.
Howie Roseman took a significant role in shaping the Eagles’ coaching staff for the 2024 season. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
On how things were really going during last season’s 10-1 start
What I was told: Those 10 wins were a grind. The Eagles were winning, but things weren’t exactly perfect behind the scenes and from a culture standpoint. One issue: Sirianni is a conservative playcaller, and that never goes over great with a franchise quarterback.
Brian Johnson was last year’s offensive coordinator — he’s since been fired and is now with the Commanders. Johnson had a great relationship with Hurts, which is part of the reason why he was promoted before the 2023 season after Shane Steichen left to take the Colts job. But, according to a few people in Philadelphia, while Johnson was the OC, it was 100 percent Sirianni’s offense you were watching last season, and Sirianni wanted to do it his way. That meant a conservative, run-first approach, especially when they got near the red zone. And last year, opposing defenses were ready for it. Johnson wasn’t calling plays. He was solely focused on giving Sirianni the offense that Sirianni wanted to run.
On Sirianni’s survival after the late-season collapse
Sirianni has taken this team to a Super Bowl. He had so much success with this team, the thinking inside the building was, How could you move on from him? And I had people who work there texting me last January, asking me just that. But from what people there told me, Sirianni was never really in danger, because of what he accomplished the previous season.
The Eagles, of course, fired Doug Pederson even though Pederson had won a Super Bowl. But the front office knew and ownership knew, it just wouldn’t have been a good look to move on from Sirianni that soon after his success in 2022.
There was a shift though: Howie Roseman has all the power now. Roseman having power is nothing new in Philadelphia, but in terms of moving forward into 2024, Roseman had his hands all over every decision. That included the new coordinator hires: Kellen Moore on offense and Vic Fangio on defense.
How unusual is it for a general manager to pick the coordinators rather than the head coach?
Very unusual. If you’re watching “Hard Knocks” right now, about the Giants’ offseason, you saw Brian Daboll walk into Joe Schoen’s office and say, Hey, I’m going to make a hire at the defensive coordinator position. There’s an understanding that the head coach puts together his squad of coaches, based on the beliefs that he has. Roseman, though, believes that he has built a championship roster, and that they should have gone much further than they did in 2023. He made the decision to bring in Moore and Fangio. And that’s why Moore will have more control of the offense than Brian Johnson had a year ago. And as far as the defense goes, as always, Vic Fangio is going to do what Vic Fangio wants to do.
On Sirianni’s job security heading into this season
In the end, I believe they kept Sirianni for 2024 because they felt that Nick could still do this. And he can. But Roseman believes this is a championship roster. What that means: If Sirianni doesn’t take them to that level in 2024, the leash probably isn’t very long.
(Top photo: Adam Hunger / Getty Images)
