Nick Sirianni might not be the most universally beloved head coach in the NFL, but there’s no denying the guy wins - and wins big. Two Super Bowl appearances, one Lombardi Trophy, and five straight playoff berths in his first five seasons at the helm of the Philadelphia Eagles?
That’s the kind of résumé that usually earns a coach some breathing room. Yet somehow, Sirianni continues to be one of the most polarizing figures in the league - even among his own fan base.
It’s a strange dynamic. Coaches with that kind of track record are typically celebrated, not scrutinized.
But Sirianni’s sideline demeanor - fiery, animated, and at times downright theatrical - has rubbed plenty of people the wrong way. Add in a couple of late-season collapses, and the criticism has only grown louder.
Still, this is a results-driven league, and by that metric, Sirianni has delivered.
Now, one of his former players is stepping up to defend him - and he’s not mincing words.
AJ Dillon backs his coach
AJ Dillon, the veteran running back who spent the 2025 season with the Eagles, recently sat down for an interview and offered some insight into what it’s like playing for Sirianni. And if you were expecting a lukewarm endorsement, think again.
“He’s like a motivator,” Dillon said. “He’s a player’s coach in the sense that he’ll come to talk to you.
He’s obviously got a bunch of knowledge of the game, but I feel like where he really excels is just the ability to kind of get the guys going, get the people, as they say, [to] ‘run through a wall.’ He can get you to that moment with real-world examples of things and just kind of really get guys motivated to go out there day in and day out.”
That’s the kind of praise that doesn’t come out of nowhere. Dillon’s comments paint a picture of a coach who knows how to connect - not just as a strategist, but as a leader.
And that’s been one of Sirianni’s most underrated traits throughout his time in Philly. For all the noise around his sideline energy, what often gets lost is how much his players genuinely respond to him.
A locker room leader, not just a play-caller
The Eagles have had their share of locker room drama in recent years, and yet, year after year, Sirianni’s teams find a way to stay in the mix. That doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a coach who can steady the ship, who can motivate and manage egos, and who can keep a team focused when the outside world is calling for heads to roll.
Sirianni’s ability to do that is part of what makes him so effective - even if it doesn’t always show up in the box score.
Still, despite the continued success - double-digit wins in four straight seasons - there’s a growing narrative that Sirianni might be on the hot seat. That kind of talk feels wildly premature, especially considering the Eagles have remained one of the NFC’s most consistent contenders under his watch.
Dillon’s future, Sirianni’s legacy
As for Dillon, he’s set to hit free agency in March after a short stint in Philadelphia that saw him rack up 81 yards on 15 touches across seven games. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing season, but his words carry weight - especially when they come from someone who’s been inside the building and seen firsthand how Sirianni operates.
At just 28 years old, Dillon’s got more football ahead of him. And Sirianni?
He’s got more wins to chase. Whether or not the critics ease up remains to be seen, but if you ask the guys who’ve played for him, they’ll tell you: this coach knows how to lead.
In a league where results matter more than reputation, Nick Sirianni is doing the one thing that matters most - winning. And that should count for more than a few sideline antics.