Eagles HC Nick Sirianni perfectly handled a tough situation during the first round of the draft
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni perfectly handled an awkward situation during the 2023 NFL Draft. Just before the draft started on Thursday night, news broke that the Eagles traded the No. 94 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 66 overall selection […]
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni perfectly handled an awkward situation during the 2023 NFL Draft.
Just before the draft started on Thursday night, news broke that the Eagles traded the No. 94 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 66 overall selection in this year's draft.
The trade was the result of a "settlement" between the two franchises due to Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort's "tampering" with former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon (now the Cardinals' head coach). The tampering took place after the Eagles' win in the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.
"I made a mistake," said Ossenfort on Thursday night (via ESPN). "I own that. You know, it's a situation that we were able to resolve. I've apologized to [Cardinals owner] Michael Bidwill, I've apologized to our staff, and I think the deal that we worked out, it is what it is, and we're just moving on from it and really don't have a lot more to say on it."
Sirianni was also asked about the incident. And he delivered an incredibly classy response.
"I know Gannon gave everything he had to that game (the Super Bowl)," said Sirianni. "Everything he had for that Super Bowl, he gave to this team. No reaction because I know where his heart was in it."
It's pretty clear that Sirianni, who is known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve, doesn't believe Arizona's tampering with Gannon distracted his former defensive coordinator ahead of the Super Bowl.
Of course, even if Sirianni did think that was the case, it wouldn't do much good to offer that as an excuse for falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
Regardless, Sirianni showed he has his coaches' backs — even after they leave — and that should be something that's attractive to potential future assistant coaches.
