Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is up to his eyeballs in preparation for Sunday’s NFC title game against San Francisco, the biggest game of his coaching career.
But he took a skinny minute to celebrate the Carolina Panthers hiring his mentor and friend Frank Reich as head coach on Thursday.
“Yeah, I did get a hold of Frank yesterday,” Sirianni said Friday about the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in the Super Bowl year.
“I was happy to, and I’m really excited for him, obviously. Well deserved, very well deserved … I know Frank is a great head coach and I’m really happy for him. And he’ll do a great job.”
Reich was 3-5-1 when he was fired by the Colts on Nov. 7. In four-plus seasons, Reich was 40-33-1. He never won the AFC South Division, but reached the playoffs twice and won one playoff game.
UPSET ABOUT THE FIRING
Sirianni, very publicly, wasn’t happy Reich lost his job.
- “As you know, what I think about Frank and how much I respect Frank as a person, how much I respect him as a football coach, you can probably imagine how I feel,” Sirianni said three days after Reich was fired.
Two weeks later, the Eagles won at Indianapolis, 17-16. Immediately after the game, Sirianni engaged in loud and animated conversation with Colts fans directly behind the Eagles’ bench.
“That bleep was for Frank Reich,” Sirianni reportedly yelled at fans.
The game was a homecoming for Sirianni, the Colts’ offensive coordinator from 2018-20 under Reich. The two also worked together with the Chargers from 2013-15. Reich was hired in 2016 as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator.
- “I love Frank Reich,” Sirianni said in Indy after the victory.
- “He’s one of the best damn football coaches I’ve ever been around … You don’t want to know what I think, if he should be here or not, you guys can probably imagine what I really think.”
SUPER BOWL CHAMP
Of course, Reich’s success with the Eagles including the Super Bowl victory with back-up quarterback Nick Foles leading the way.
Reich was highly regarded with the Eagles — for more than his work with Foles. He helped develop Carson Wentz, who in 2017, had the Eagles at 10-2 before he was injured against the Rams.
Before the Panthers hired Reich, there was talk he might be in line for the Eagles’ offensive coordinator job should Shane Steichen land a head coaching job. Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon reportedly have interviewed for head coaching jobs since the regular season ended.
With Reich in Carolina, that leaves four open head coaching jobs — the Broncos, Colts, Cardinals and Texans.
