Eagles Marcus Mariota is No Stranger to Nick Sirianni, Others on Coaching Staff

The backup Philadelphia Eagles quarterback signed a one-year deal last month and knows Alex Tanney and Michael Clay in addition to Sirianni

Nick Sirianni and Frank Reich got to know Marcus Mariota in a small restaurant in Eugene, Ore., eight years ago.

The two coaches, who were together on the staff of the then-San Diego Chargers at the time, had dinner with him and put the then-Ducks’ quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner through a private workout leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft.

Sirianni was the Chargers' quarterbacks coach; Reich was the offensive coordinator.

“We just thought the world of him as a person, and obviously, his play spoke for itself,” said Sirianni at the NFL owners’ meetings last month, “but he’s very talented in a lot of different things that he could do.”

Mariota leaned on the connections he built when it came time to join the Eagles as a backup quarterback. He signed a one-year deal on March 20 and on Wednesday afternoon met with Eagles reporters via Zoom.

"We’re just happy we have Marcus as a proven starter in this league, and with the ability that he has, and the person that he is," said Sirianni. "We’re excited to have him on this team."

The veteran quarterback’s relationships with the Eagles run deep.

He was a former teammate in Tennessee of Alex Tanney, who played the position and is now the Eagles’ quarterback coach after being promoted from assistant QB coach under Brian Johnson, who was promoted to offensive coordinator.

“I did tell Tanney I don’t know if I can call you coach, yet,” said Mariota, who is six years younger than his former teammate. “We have to figure that one out…

“I was a young guy when we were working together. He was very influential in how I was reading certain route combinations, different patterns, ‘Hey, this is how I see it.’ From early on, I could tell that there was coaching in his future.”

Mariota also has a history with Eagles special team coordinator, Michael Clay. The two of them were teammates at Oregon, and only two years separate them in age; Clay is 31, Mariota 29.

It was the Titans who drafted Mariota second overall, though the Eagles with then-coach Chp Kelly coveted him. Kelly had coached Mariota at Oregon and was ready to give up whatever it took to get him, with Fletcher Cox rumored to be one of the pieces in any proposed deal.

Tennessee didn’t want to do it. It wanted Mariota.

“There were a lot of different scenarios and it was such an interesting time for me because as the process goes, your agent will sit down with you, usually the night before, and say, ‘Hey, this is where I think you’ll end up,’” said Mariota. “My agent at the time was like, ‘I have no idea. So, just be prepared for everything.’

“We really didn’t have any idea where I’d go, but I’m grateful for my opportunity I had in Tennessee and just appreciate the support from all those teams at the time.

“I think it’s easy, eight, nine years later to play the what-if game, but I’m forever grateful for the Titans to give me an opportunity.”

Mariota has been with two teams since his Titans days – the Las Vegas Raiders and, last year, the Atlanta Falcons.

“I’m grateful for the time I had with the Raiders and the time I spent with the Falcons, I wouldn’t change that for anything,” he said. “I think ultimately it made me not just a better football player but it has made me a better man.

“We could always play the what-if game, but at the end of the day I’m excited to be here now and I look forward to doing what I can for this team.”

---

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI Fan Nation Eagles Today. Please follow him on Twitter: @kracze. 

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? Click Here. 

Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Check out the SI.com team page here