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Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nick Sirianni's Stunning Turnaround Lands Him Among NFL's Top Coaches
Nick Sirianni's Stunning Turnaround Lands Him Among NFL's Top Coaches originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The narrative surrounding Nick Sirianni has completely flipped in the span of just one remarkable season. Twelve months ago, Philadelphia Eagles fans were calling sports radio stations demanding their head coach be fired. Whispers about potential replacements filled the airwaves, with some even suggesting Bill Belichick could be lured to the City of Brotherly Love. Fast forward to today, and Sirianni finds himself ranked as the fourth-best head coach in the entire National Football League by Pro Football Network's Brandon Austin. Advertisement The journey from the hot seat to elite status began with one of the most painful collapses in recent Eagles history. After racing to a 10-1 start in 2023, Sirianni watched his team crumble down the stretch, losing five of their final six games before getting embarrassed by Tampa Bay in the wild card round. The finger-pointing was swift and merciless, with many questioning whether the former Colts offensive coordinator had what it took to lead a championship contender. Those doubts only intensified when Philadelphia stumbled out of the gate in 2024, posting an ugly 2-2 record through the first month of the season. The vultures were circling, and Sirianni's seat was getting hotter by the week. Critics pointed to questionable game management decisions and wondered if the team had simply tuned him out after the previous year's meltdown. But something clicked during that early adversity. Rather than crumble under the pressure, Sirianni showed the adaptability and resilience that would ultimately define his transformation. He had already made the difficult decision to overhaul his coaching staff after 2023, firing defensive coordinator Sean Desai and the controversial Matt Patricia, along with offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. These moves demonstrated his willingness to acknowledge mistakes and make necessary changes. The results spoke for themselves. From that 2-2 start, the Eagles went on an absolutely dominant run, finishing 16-1 over their final 17 games including the playoffs. The lone loss came when starting quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion in a game they were already controlling. It was a remarkable display of consistency and execution that culminated in a thorough 40-22 dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Advertisement Austin's recognition of Sirianni as the fourth-best coach in the league wasn't just about the championship, though that certainly sealed the deal. The ranking acknowledged a body of work that includes playoff appearances in all four of his seasons as a head coach, along with two Super Bowl appearances and one title. His .706 regular season winning percentage ranks among the best in the modern era, while his 54 total wins including playoffs represent the second-most ever for a coach in his first four seasons. Perhaps most impressively, Sirianni has managed to maintain this level of success despite constant turnover in his coaching staff. After the Eagles' first Super Bowl appearance, both offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon left for head coaching positions. Following the championship run, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore departed for New Orleans. Each time, Sirianni has adapted and found ways to keep the team performing at an elite level. The Eagles rewarded their coach's remarkable turnaround with a multi-year contract extension announced in May, with owner Jeffrey Lurie praising Sirianni's growth mindset and authentic leadership style. It was a far cry from the speculation about his job security that dominated headlines just 18 months earlier. Sirianni's evolution from a coach fighting for his professional life to one recognized among the NFL's elite represents more than just wins and losses. It demonstrates the value of perseverance in the face of criticism, the importance of self-reflection and adaptation, and the power of organizational patience when a leader shows the ability to grow from failure. Advertisement The transformation has been so complete that it's easy to forget how precarious Sirianni's position seemed not that long ago. Radio hosts who once demanded his firing now praise his game management. Fans who questioned his emotional outbursts now celebrate his passion. Critics who doubted his ability to handle big moments now watch him hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Related: Nick Sirianni Continues To Pull Right Strings For Eagles Related: Eagles Mindset Shared In Passionate Push From Nick Sirianni This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers' Kyle Shanahan Given Surprising Grade After Down Season
49ers' Kyle Shanahan Given Surprising Grade After Down Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is very challenging to judge. He has been the head coach of two Super Bowl teams, the San Francisco 49ers, and has built one of the best offenses in the game. He remains a top play-caller in the sport. Despite all the good that Shanahan has brought, he has yet actually to win a title with the 49ers and has as many losing seasons as he does winning. Advertisement Seriously. After 2024's debacle of a finish for the 49ers, Shanahan has four losing seasons of less than seven wins. He currently has four winning seasons to his resume. Despite the clear inconsistencies, Pro Football Network ranked Shanahan as the sixth-best coach in football. "Kyle Shanahan remains one of the NFL's brightest minds, capable of building elite offenses and contending with flawed rosters," writes PFN's Brandon Austin. "In a league dominated by star quarterbacks, the San Francisco 49ers have reached Super Bowls with Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy under center. There are several pieces of evidence to support Shanahan's prowess as an offensive architect, including Matt Ryan's 2016 MVP campaign." Advertisement Shanahan's ability to lead multiple quarterbacks to the Super Bowl is impressive—no one denies that. And there is some truth to the belief that San Francisco's injury history has more to do with Shanahan's record than his coaching prowess. The fact that he ranks above a Super Bowl winner like Sean Payton or Mike Tomlin, though, is a stretch. Especially considering there is a good chance he may be on the hot seat if San Francisco goes through another down year with an aging roster. Related: 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Breaks Top 10 NFL Best Coaches Related: 49ers Running Back Room Clears Top 15 in Recent Rankings This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
CB Jalen Ramsey named top trade target for Arizona Cardinals
CB Jalen Ramsey named top trade target for Arizona Cardinals Pro Football Network believes the Cardinals should trade for Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey. In the dead of the offseason, proposing trades is always content that we can consider. Several players are considered on the trading block like Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Pro Football Network proposed a trade candidate for each team to acquire. For the Arizona Cardinals, that is Ramsey. The Cardinals' offense was elite last season, but to truly contend for the playoffs, they need a better defense. Trading for a proven veteran like Jalen Ramsey could lift the entire group. Now in his 30s, Ramsey has shown some signs of slowing down, but he's still among the game's top corners. Teams targeted him 71 times in 2024, and he allowed a 62% completion rate and an 83.2 passer rating. It's unclear if the Miami Dolphins will actually deal him, but the two sides mutually agreed to explore trade options earlier this offseason. Miami would save $9.9 million against the cap if they move him after June 1. The Cardinals' passing metrics ay they need help in the secondary. They "finishing 27th in PFSN's Defense+ metric" and "also posted the worst pass defense success rate in the NFL at 50.2%." But would acquiring Ramsey make sense when the Cardinals are bullish on their young group of cornerbacks? Sean Murphy-Bunting's season-ending offseason knee injury was almost a blessing in disguise because now it allows 2024 second-round Max Melton and current second-round pick Will Johnson to play. Is Ramsey currently better than either of them? Surely, but what will Miami want in return? Acquiring Ramsey is more for a team who needs a final piece to make them more of a playoff contender. The Cardinals will compete to make the postseason, which means Ramsey might help, but will he fit long-term? The Cardinals are looking for something now and in the future. The Cardinals won't deal for Ramsey, but he would make the secondary really fun to watch. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Free agent WR Keenan Allen connected to Arizona Cardinals again
Free agent WR Keenan Allen connected to Arizona Cardinals again Media outlets love to connect the Cardinals to veteran WR Keenan Allen, who is still a free agent. With all the moves the Arizona Cardinals made in the offseason, one position seemed to go neglected — wide receiver. They re-signed Greg Dortch and Zay Jones, and they added Simi Fehoko, as well as bringing Quez Watkins well before free agency began. It would seem that if they intended on adding another receiver, they would have. But media outlets keep connecting veteran receivers to the Cardinals. Pro Football Network named receiver Keenan Allen as the one free agent the Cardinals need to add. On the surface, it makes sense. He was productive last season, catching 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. But at 33 years old, he doesn't bring a downfield element necessarily. In the passing game, he would be used like Trey McBride, and in McBride they already have a player who can catch over 100 passes. Using Allen like that doesn't enhance the team's offense. The Cardinals are counting on more production from Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Dortch and Jones. Would Allen be content being the third or fourth receiver on the team? Is what he has to offer better than Wilson. Allen is a talented receiver, but would he improve the offense? As of right now, the Cardinals have not thought so. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens schedule 2025: Baltimore makes a list of teams deserving of more prime-time games
Ravens schedule 2025: Baltimore makes a list of teams deserving of more prime-time games Baltimore will play four games in prime time this season, and Pro Football Network added the Ravens to the list of teams deserving of more night games The NFL schedule was released last Wednesday night, and the Ravens are scheduled for four prime-time games, including a rare "Monday Night Football" game in Baltimore against the Detroit Lions in Week 3. Since John Harbaugh became the Ravens' coach in 2008, Baltimore has only had five home Monday Night games, tied with Houston and Jacksonville for the fewest in those 16 years. Baltimore is the Super Bowl favorite, but the NFL kept the Ravens in nine early afternoon (1:00 PM ET) and two late afternoon contests. Pro Football Network looked at four teams that deserved more primetime matchups, and Baltimore made the cut. This one's a head-scratcher. The Ravens are consistently one of the league's top teams, yet they were given fewer prime-time games than the Chicago Bears, Dolphins, and Falcons. Baltimore is No. 1 in PFSN's power rankings heading into 2025, and its offense ranked second in Offense+, trailing only the Detroit Lions. The Ravens led the league in EPA per dropback, EPA per rush, and red-zone efficiency. Lamar Jackson was dominant again in an MVP-level year, and he has Derrick Henry in the backfield. The Ravens' defense had some issues against the pass last season, but it still graded out as a top-10 unit in Defense+. With the additions of Malaki Starks and Mike Green in the draft, they should take a leap in 2025. Baltimore's final two games (at Green Bay and Pittsburgh) could be flexed into prime time, giving John Harbaugh's team six overall. Week 1: Ravens @ Bills September 7 8:20 P.M. ET NBC/Peacock Week 3: Ravens vs. Lions September 22 8:15 P.M. ET ABC/ESPN/ESPN+ Week 9: Ravens @ Dolphins October 30 8:15 P.M. ET Amazon Prime Week 13: Ravens vs. Bengals
