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Sirianni, Eagles more hungry for title

AP Photo Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, center, is dunked during the closing minutes of the second half of the NFC Championship game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday in Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA — It’s every football coach’s dream: to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

Few ever do it, regardless of how long they’ve been coaching. Head coach Nick Sirianni, in only his fourth season as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, has now accomplished that feat twice in three years as the Eagles won convincingly, 55-23, over the Washington Commanders in the 2024 NFC Championship at a raucous Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

The Eagles will be vying for their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history, first since 2018.

“It’s about team,” Sirianni said at the postgame press conference. “This is the greatest team sport there is. I think it gets overlooked sometimes with, ‘Look at how this play performed or look at the scheme here.’ But it’s about team and that’s why I love this sport. I hope that people will say, ‘Hey, this is the greatest team sport to inspire people to play this sport.’ We’re a team. We’re a freaking team and I’m proud of this team.”

Sirianni, a 2003 graduate of Mount Union and the Southwestern Central School Class of 1999, is a member of Mount Union’s deep coaching tree rooted by legendary College Football Hall of Fame coach Larry Kehres. Notable Purple Raider alumni who have made an impact in the coaching world include veteran NFL coach Dom Capers, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, Toledo head coach Jason Candle and Indianapolis Colts tight end coach Tom Manning — just to name a few. Sirianni, however, has a chance to be the first Mount Union alum to win a Super Bowl as the head coach (Capers was the defensive coordinator on the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl XLV championship team). Oh by the way, Nick’s dad, Fran Sirianni, was a Hall of Fame coach at Southwestern.

“He’s done a great job,” Eagles QB Jalen Hurts said postgame when asked about playing for Sirianni following his four-touchdown performance (three rushing and one through the air).

It was at Mount Union where Sirianni’s coaching career began in 2004 as the defensive backs coach. In his second season, Sirianni helped the Purple Raiders win the 2005 national championship — the school’s NCAA-record eighth national title at the time (now with 13). During his playing days at Mount Union, Sirianni was a three-year starter at wide receiver, was part of multiple national championships, and earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. At Southwestern, Sirianni was a three-sport athlete, including of course football, for the Trojans.

“The things I learned there was about detail,” Sirianni said about his time at Mount Union. “About not being satisfied with wins and how you improve off of wins. What I learned about winning. What Coach Kehres and Mount Union football program is meant to my family? Yeah, he’s special. He’s special. I learned a lot there about how to coach this game. Had great memories with great teammates.”

Behind every great coach is a great mentor. Coach Kehres, who has the highest winning percentage (.929) in college football history and owns the most national titles (11) of any college football coach in history, has not only provided Sirianni his first coaching experience 20 years ago, but also has been a mentor for Sirianni throughout his career.

“Coach Kehres, you’re invited to go to the next game,” Sirianni said. “It’s on me. Love to have you.”

Competing on the highest stage is no stranger to Sirianni, a Jamestown native. In total at Mount Union, Sirianni won four national championships (three as a player and one on the coaching staff). Sirianni became the first Mount Union alum to lead his team to the Super Bowl as the head coach two seasons ago in Super Bowl 57. The Eagles lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

“As bad as a feeling we had from how last year ended, I think it makes you who you are,” Sirianni said. “These guys are hungry and we got one more to go.”

The Eagles will play the AFC champion Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX (59) on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“This is a great feeling,” Sirianni added.” We’ve had this feeling before, and it just makes you more hungry to go there and play this game again. We’re going to have to, regardless of the opponent, play a really good game to be able to reach our goals.”

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Nate LaRiccia is the director of athletic communications at the University of Mount Union.

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