‘Candy’ to beat Colts after mentor Reich fired

INDIANAPOLIS — With time working down within the Eagles’ 17-16 win over the Colts on Sunday, Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni ripped off his visor, stood on the guests bench at Lucas Oil Stadium and yelled into the gang.

He labored to gather himself as he walked by the tunnel, however when he hugged normal supervisor Howie Roseman on the locker room entrance, he welled up, wiping tears from his eyes as he went to handle the group.

On the podium a short while later, he once more grew emotional, and defined that the Colts’ current firing of Frank Reich as coach was on the root of it.

“I am emotional as a result of I like Frank Reich. I actually do,” mentioned Sirianni, who served as Reich’s offensive coordinator in Indianapolis from 2018 to 2020. “He is top-of-the-line rattling soccer coaches I’ve ever been round. I hoped that he and I’d be capable to coach towards one another this recreation. He’s one among my largest mentors.

“You do not need to know what I consider if he must be right here or not, however you guys can most likely think about what I actually suppose. … It was candy to return right here, particularly with what occurred with this group the final couple weeks, and get the win. The win. We’re leaving Indianapolis with a win!”

Reich was fired by the Colts on Nov. 7 after a 3-5-1 begin to the season. He was changed by former heart Jeff Saturday, now 1-1 as interim head coach. The Eagles moved to 9-1 on the season with the win.

Sirianni’s apprenticeship underneath Reich dates again to when he was an assistant coach for the Chargers from 2013 to 2015, when Reich was on the employees as quarterbacks coach after which offensive coordinator. Reich named Sirianni offensive coordinator when he obtained the Colts head-coaching gig in 2018.

“I feel this ‘W’ was most likely for Frank,” mentioned former Colts and present Eagles receiver Zach Pascal. “It was a tragic day to see him get fired. … It was a tragic day for me. However I am glad we got here out with that dub at present.”

Philadelphia edge rusher Haason Reddick described Sirianni as “very emotional” throughout his postgame deal with to the group.

“I am simply completely happy we have been capable of come collectively, battle, get ourselves again within the recreation and win it for him,” Reddick mentioned. “As a man who performed on completely different groups, I understand how a lot it means to beat and get a ‘W’ over a group that you simply both performed for or coached for.”

Sirianni endured a tough begin as Eagles head coach in 2021, getting off to a 2-5 begin whereas he labored to search out his footing because the group’s lead man. The Eagles rallied to make the playoffs final season, nevertheless, and have one of the best report within the NFL this yr at 9-1.

He credit three folks for being his main mentors: his father; his coach at Mount Union Faculty, Larry Kehres; and Reich.

Realizing how a lot this recreation meant to him, the gamers offered Sirianni with the sport ball within the locker room.

“He got here right here and altered the tradition for us, and we’re out right here profitable like loopy,” working again Miles Sanders mentioned. “We have a very good chemistry right here due to him. I’ve obtained loads of respect for Coach. I do not know if he is aware of that however I hope he hears it.”