In his three years with the Eagles, Nick Sirianni was rarely at a loss for words.
On Sunday evening he was at a loss for words.
“Yeah, I didn’t have to say much,” Sirianni said. “In fact, I didn’t say anything.”
Sirianni didn’t say a word to his players in the locker room after the Eagles lost for the first time this year, 20-14, to the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Sirianni generally speaks in the locker room after the team’s game. He uses these moments to set the tone for the week ahead and generally shares some big thoughts. Win or lose.
None of that this Sunday.
Sirianni left the talking to his players.
“Our guys started talking as soon as we got there,” Sirianni said. “A lot of different people have said different things, that’s what you want from your team.
“That part was a big benefit because they hold each other accountable, they hold themselves accountable. I take responsibility for myself and therefore didn’t really have to say anything. The leaders of the football team did that and we will live by what they said.”
One of Sirianni’s strengths is his ability to understand exactly what his players need at all times. Whether it’s a flick of the tongue or a gentle touch, longer exercises or a day off, a long speech or just a few selected words.
That’s one of the reasons why his players believe in him so much. Sirianni trusts them unconditionally and they almost always repay that trust.
What did the veterans say after the game? No one shared details, but AJ Brown said it was healthy and necessary.
“Just a lot of self-reflection, a lot of leaders just reaching out and talking to each other,” he said. “That’s the most important thing, even better than Nick standing up there and talking, because we’re the ones going to war, we’re the ones out there fighting in every single game and we depend on each other.
“That was the mood. We just held each other accountable. We’ll grow from it, but I’ll keep what was said in the locker room.”
But you can guess what was said. Jalen Hurts constantly talks about the “standard” and how disappointing it is when the Eagles fall short of their standard – his standard.
After the game, Hurts was one of the leaders who spoke to the team, and it’s certain that the words “standard” and “responsible” were heard multiple times.
Jordan Mailata said the team’s veteran leaders speaking in place of Sirianni caught his attention.
“We know the standards and are coached well and I think it was important for us to speak our minds and the players looked each other in the eye and we have to hold each other accountable,” Mailata said. “So I kind of liked it.”
Jason Kelce was one of the veterans who spoke out in the MetLife visiting locker room after the game after the Eagles were blown out of action in the second half, losing to the Jets for the first time ever and losing 5-1.
“I think whenever you lose, you want to take responsibility and take responsibility, and I think we all know that wasn’t the standard that we held ourselves to,” Jason Kelce said.
“Whenever you lose or win, emotions are high and you know people are going to talk, so I don’t know if it’s that unique. I think it’s like that when you try to motivate your teammates and fix things.”