A key sequence in the second quarter of the Bears‘ 27-7 win over the Eagles on Monday included Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni screaming what appeared to be vulgar insults at Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson.
Jackson was penalized for a late hit on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ scramble, and Hurts took such a hard shot on the play that he was required to come out of the game and be checked for a concussion. The Eagles sent in backup Andy Dalton, who ultimately threw an interception on third-and-goal at the Bears’ 2-yard line.
After the play that forced Hurts out, ESPN’s cameras showed Sirianni yelling at Jackson.
“You want to always fight for your players and protect your players, [but] I always come away, when I have a moment like that, with remorse,” Sirianni said. “I shouldn’t let my emotions get the best of me. Those guys are out there trying to make a play. It was close on the sideline. It ended up being a penalty. You never want to see your quarterback get hit like that.
“But it’s in the heat of the moment. Nobody’s trying to hurt anybody out there. And I always have remorse when I act that way, but I always love fighting for our players. I love our guys. The emotion of the game probably got the better of me, and I have to learn from that particular moment. I have to be more steady in that situation… I didn’t like how I handled that.”
Hurts returned on the next possession, but Dalton’s interception (caught by rookie safety Dillon Thieneman) did significant damage by preventing the Eagles from tying the game. Instead, the Bears held the lead from the start and spent much of the second half up two scores.