In a candid moment that surprised fans and insiders alike, Philadelphia Eagles superstar running back Saquon Barkley admitted he initially couldn’t stand Nick Sirianni.
What began as heated dislike during a 2023 playoff matchup between the Giants and Eagles has evolved into mutual respect and an on-field chemistry that now makes Philadelphia’s offense one of the most feared in the league when it is clicking.
Saquon Couldn’t Stand Sirianni When On The Giants
Barkley said that his distaste for Sirianni began with the Eagles’ playoff win over the Giants in the 2022 season. New York was coming off a 31-24 Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings, but were decided underdogs at Lincoln Financial Field the following Saturday.
The Giants were blown out by Philadelphia 38-7, but it was the antics of Sirianni that bothered Saquon, as well as the majority of Big Blue fans who were watching the game in utter dismay.
“He just went into the camera, and he was like, [nodding his head],” Barkley recalled. “That kind of stuck with me for a very long time. So, I wasn’t a fan of him. I haven’t told this story before.”
That clip represents Sirianni’s erratic behavior on the sidelines, which has included screaming at Chiefs fans from under the tunnel at Arrowhead Stadium and even going at Eagles fans when the team was not doing so well a couple of seasons ago.
However, Eagles players have noted that their head coach’s fiery antics have brought out the best in the team, as Philadelphia dominated through the postseason en route to their second Super Bowl title last season.
Barkley Gained Much Respect Upon Joining The Eagles
Fast-forward to 2024, when Barkley joined the Eagles in free agency. What once seemed like an insurmountable personality clash transformed into admiration. Barkley now praises Sirianni’s attention to detail, discipline, and relentless work ethic — the very traits that once annoyed him from a distance.
Barkley said, “When people compare who’s the best and who’s not, and for coaches, it’s about winning. He would say himself what makes a great coach is having great players. Obviously, the Philadelphia Eagles have been a great team since I’ve been in the league, going against them and now playing with them. But there’s something to his standard that he sets, there’s something to the way he comes to work, just how detailed and how obsessed he is with all the little things.”
After Saquon ran for over 2,000 yards in the regular season alone and continued to torch opposing defenses through the playoffs, his production has taken a step back this season. Even still, Barkley has over 1,000 yards on the season and has rushed for over 120 yards in two of Philadelphia’s last three games.
“He doesn’t get a lot of respect,” Barkley said. “I don’t know why he doesn’t kind of get the respect he should get, in my opinion. You really don’t hear about him. How long has he been coaching here? Five years? Who’s been a better coach the last five years than Nick Sirianni?”
The Eagles have had a talented roster, but Sirianni has done his part in pushing Philly from a good team to a championship-level squad. He also represents the Philadelphia fanbase in a way that few coaches could, and Barkley took notice of that, too.
Barkley concluded, “It’s been pretty cool to be able to go from going against him and not being a fan of him, and then seeing what he’s all about. I think he does a really good job. He’s the perfect coach for Philadelphia, what he stands for and how he operates. I think, literally, when you think of someone in Philly and a Philly fan. If I can picture a coach, and I had to picture a coach, it would be Coach Sirianni.”
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