Inside the Relationship of Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni
PHILADELPHIA - Starting something is often the easy part. Maintaining it is a challenge.
The beginning of the Nick Sirianni era in Philadelphia can already be defined as a success before Super Bowl LVII on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.
Through two seasons, Sirianni and his coaching staff have produced two playoff berths, an NFC championship, and an impressive 25-12 record (including the postseason) with all of that coming off a four-win 2020 campaign which had Philadelphia turning the page on Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz.
If you chalk up the 2-5 hiccup in 2021 as the start-up costs of a new regime, the Eagles have hit their stride with Sirianni running the show by winning 23 of the organization’s last 30 games.
One more W and Jeffrey Lurie will have a second Lombardi Trophy in the lobby of the NovaCare Complex.
It’s not too hard to rewind to the first Super Bowl championship after the 2017 season when Pederson delivered the ultimate prize.
The now-Jacksonville coach followed that up with two more postseason berths before things derailed in the 2020 pandemic season. Ultimately, no mulligan was proffered when Pederson insisted on more autonomy with the coaching staff.
As Sirianni approaches the pinnacle, it’s natural to ask if the same thing could happen again.
While anything is possible, Sirianni seems more prepared to navigate the politics of the building moving forward, something GM Howie Roseman explained.
“I remember when (Nick) first became the coach," Roseman said, ‘When are we hanging out this summer? And I was like, ‘What are we doing?’ He said, ‘We’re hanging out.’”
Sirianni’s first core coaching philosophy is connection and it’s not lip service. The coach wants to get to know his players but the sentiment also applies to everyone the coach works with.
“He makes an effort and he’s taught me,” said Roseman. “… Sometimes you take it for granted, and I’ve talked about that being with Andy [Reid] and being with the people we were with for so long when we had coach Reid, you take those relationships sometimes for granted.
"... I think (Nick has) helped me realize that.”
Relationships need maintenance.
“Just like your relationships with family, you have to work on things all the time because you go through so much in these seven months together, ups and downs, so you bank on the trust and relationships you have,” Roseman said.
Sirianni has a natural ability to tap into what others need.
“I realize everybody needs a little bit of attention," the coach said before the start of the season. ... Even (one day last week), I was going to come over and say hello to (reporters) during stretch (at practice), and it was like, ‘No, I need to talk to these guys during this time and I need to have a meaningful conversation. Not more so than just say, ‘What’s up?’
"A meaningful conversation with a couple of guys because I know that will go a long way because you’re pulled in a lot of directions, but the players are the most important thing.”
That sentiment is noticed.
“It’s hard not to be impressed with Nick as a coach.," said Roseman. "He’s got a really unique way of connecting with the players."
Cognizant or not, Sirianni uses the same skill to maintain his relationships with the brass.
“In terms of us, about a month ago, we probably have the same sense of humor, like a lot of the same things in terms of movies and music, so about a month ago (Eagles’ director of scouting) Brandon Hunt, who wasn’t here when we made the hire, was like, ‘how long ago did you and Nick meet? Were you guys friends when he first came into the league?’
“I said I never met Nick before we interviewed him. And he goes, that’s unbelievable because I think we connect on the same sort of things and, obviously, we spent a lot of time doing that because it’s important.
“Just like he talks about connecting with the team, he wants to do it.”
Maintenance is such a big part of Sirianni's ethos that the "new normal” espoused by Pederson after winning Super Bowl LII might actually have a chance this time.
-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen