Nick Sirianni, head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, is introducing Philadelphia to some of sports’ all-time greats. His goal is to maintain the focus and appreciation for work done to date, while inspiring his team as they prepare for the next season. Meanwhile, the Eagles have an electrifying rematch on the horizon against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. In order to develop a champion mindset within the team, Sirianni is bringing in world-changers, such as Geno Auriemma, Nick Saban, and Dawn Staley to speak with the team.
The Eagles’ delayed ring ceremony took place on July 18, marking their recent Super Bowl victory while signaling a fresh start. With the shadow of history looming large, Sirianni knows he has to change the mindset of what has become his team’s focus. He emphasized the importance of not carrying any baggage—good or bad—from last season as they start a new journey.
Sirianni’s training went so deep that he consulted with Geno Auriemma, the legendary UConn women’s basketball coach who has won 12 national titles. Their bond started when Sirianni texted Auriemma a congratulatory message after one of the Huskies’ wins during last season’s championship run. This connection led to a 45-minute long phone call to get acquainted with one another. In their discussion, they explored the mental shift that comes after winning a championship.
“Auriemma remarked about Sirianni’s mindset heading into the new season. The sense that I got was that he was concerned, not in a bad way, but like most coaches are after your greatest success.”
During training camp, Sirianni addressed the team in an auditorium adorned with visuals of a car and Super Bowl signage in the rearview mirror. He stressed that they must not dwell on past successes, stating that “the best thing that ever happened to you and the worst thing that ever happened to you” can cloud judgment.
He emphasized that the success they had achieved in past years should not be the basis for what they expected to do this current season. “If you think you’re the reason we won the Super Bowl last year, you’re exactly right. If you think you’re the only reason we won the Super Bowl last year, you’re exactly wrong. It’s going to take all of us,” echoed Saquon Barkley, reinforcing Sirianni’s message.
Sirianni participated in the intriguing conversations with other sports luminaries. He literally called upon four-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson to discuss tactics for what everyone assumes is the team’s difficult second act. Like Saban, he wants to keep his players sharp and focused and not get ahead of themselves.
“It was thinking about the past too much and resting on your laurels…or looking too far ahead. Both are very dangerous,” Sirianni explained, highlighting the fine line athletes must tread as they balance pride in past victories with the need for present focus.
Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata reiterated this idea. “As players, we have to move on. That is the only way we’ll be able to be better or pretend to be better this season. We can’t carry the baggage from last season — good or bad — you can’t bring it in.… It’s exactly like being in a new romance,” he proclaimed.
Sirianni’s approach goes beyond moving on from old victories and requires breeding a mindset of constant pursuit. “Well, why can’t the message be: We’re not the hunted. We’re on the hunt for another one,” Auriemma said, framing the Eagles’ outlook as one of ambition rather than entitlement.
As training camp progresses and the anticipation for the season builds, Sirianni remains vigilant against distractions that could derail his team’s focus. “Obviously anytime you watch a game that you have a good memory of…it always brings that emotion back,” he shared regarding reviewing past performances. He is equally direct that this reflection has an immediate, practical goal of preparing for the next storm.
Sirianni acknowledged his emotional investment in the game but tempered it with professionalism. “It’s not like I’m jumping up and down when [Eagles WR DeVonta Smith] catches the touchdown. I’m not running down the sideline like I was in the game when [Eagles head of football development and strategy] Connor Barwin shoved me.”
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