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New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How Nick Sirianni will oversee the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles: ‘Run that s— back.'
PHILADELPHIA — The word that contains the Eagles' ultimate goal for the 2025 season is one Nick Sirianni won't let slip from his lips. Only once does the head coach say it, only in response to a roundtable of reporters who collectively wonder how a reigning Super Bowl champion will prolong its golden era: Repeat. Advertisement No, Sirianni said, the word 'repeat' is not a place he wants to promote. It won't be a mantra he'll meld into the team's mentality. He said they're on a mountain. A different mountain. One with new trails and challenges and footholds that require their full focus. 'You've got to be right there or you're going to slip,' Sirianni said. Champions have spoken this way for centuries. Sirianni has long consulted his sports contemporaries. Jay Wright. Dawn Staley. This year, Nick Saban. Sirianni calls them with specific questions but winds up relishing in their tangents. He wants to speak like them. He wants to act like them. He wants to win like them. He's defeated his detractors by overseeing an Eagles team that's fielding its best winning percentage under any head coach, that's reached two Super Bowls in three seasons, that's just won its second Super Bowl in team history. His new contract demands he nurture this stability. He must do this in his own way. The Sirianni Way is reaching maturity. Sirianni leads by disseminating an obsession over the smallest of details and a sense of competition that dates back to his time as a trash-talking wide receiver for Division III Mount Union. He's refined both as a head coach. He rankled Philadelphians inside and outside the NovaCare Complex with sideline antics he eventually mitigated in 2024. Moments like authorizing Jalen Hurts' back-breaking bomb to DeVonta Smith in Super Bowl LIX embodied the 'sweet spot' for Sirianni's passion that Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said Sirianni wanted to find: a disposition that manages calls with conviction and emotions with due measure. Competition serves the obsession by channeling meaning into a repetitive cycle, Sirianni likened to a pickup basketball game. 'You don't … win a pickup basketball game and go, 'All right, I'm satisfied,'' Sirianni said. 'No, you're like, 'Run that s— back. Let's play again.' That's in your DNA.' Advertisement That's not pressing repeat on a song and studying the intricacies of its exactness. That's sweeping the measures clean and unleashing instruments against the air anew. That's understanding that when the proverbial basketball is checked into another game, it ain't going down the same way again. Sirianni learned that the hard way. The collapse of 2023 was partly rooted in offensive obstinacy, stagnation and decline. The ascension of 2024 was partly due to Sirianni's evolution in adapting his system by hiring Kellen Moore and loosening his grip on the offense's controls. The success of 2025 will partly hinge on how Kevin Patullo performs as a first-time offensive coordinator and how Sirianni manages his longtime assistant if their system stalls. No NFL offense may be better positioned for prosperity than Philadelphia's. It's largely why the Eagles opened as No. 1 in The Athletic's NFL Power Rankings. Right guard will house the unit's only new starter. Saquon Barkley, 28, is entering his second season behind a Pro Bowl-studded offensive line — an enviable pairing that Patullo can leverage with a passing game that includes reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, however he sees fit. Moore chose to run the ball more times per game than any Eagles team had since 1978. The dominance yielded by the decision to run Barkley (and use Hurts in zone-read options and RPOs) shaped defenses into favorable forms Hurts exploited in a conservative passing attack. It will be notable to monitor 1) whether the Eagles deviate from that approach under Patullo, and 2) what concepts will be introduced to keep the system fresh. Sparse media viewings in OTAs offered little insight into the offense's development. Hurts said at the time that the Eagles were 'far from what we're going to be' in terms of their offensive identity. Sirianni moved to infuse the 2025 system with new ideas by making outside hires with passing game coordinator Parks Frazier and quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler. Still, Sirianni insists Patullo is also inherently capable of adapting despite their lengthy partnership. 'Even though I've been with him for eight years, not every one of his ideas has gotten in,' Sirianni said. 'And now he's able to get those ideas going and flowing. And a lot of them look really good.' Opposite from the cyclical nature of their offensive coaching staff (Patullo will be Hurts' sixth play-caller in six years), Sirianni expects to enjoy consistency in the team's defensive philosophy. Vic Fangio returns for his second season as the defensive coordinator of his home state team. Such consistency shouldn't go understated. It can be argued that the defense's turnaround under Fangio in 2024 was the biggest factor in the team's return to league prominence. A top-rated Eagles defense that hounded Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX also went from surrendering the league's third-most passes of 15-plus yards in 2023 to the fewest in 2024, per TruMedia. General manager Howie Roseman began free agency by re-signing All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, but the Eagles must backfill critical vacancies at cornerback, safety, defensive tackle and edge rusher — and linebacker, considering Nakobe Dean's recovery timeline. Advertisement In training camp, Fangio will resume the experimentation in the secondary he began in OTAs. The seven-time defensive coordinator will have three preseason games (starting with the Bengals on Aug. 7) to test his plan to keep Cooper DeJean at nickel and field him at cornerback or safety in base packages. Meanwhile, the primary options at those latter positions — Sydney Brown, Tristin McCollum and Drew Mukuba at safety; Kelee Ringo, Adoree' Jackson and Mac McWilliams at cornerback — will be jockeying for starting jobs. The strength of the defense hinges on health and the development of its youth, embodied by first-round linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who's yet to return fully from offseason labrum surgery. The defense's youth underlines the importance of the player-based leadership Sirianni promotes. Brandon Graham's retirement signaled the departure of yet another team captain and franchise image-bearer. Defenders such as former first-round picks Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith are entering eras that require them to uphold the standards of their predecessors. How will Sirianni oversee their development? How will he encourage their individual motivations? Winning is the central unifier. Sirianni said a former NFL player — whom he did not name, but said did not play in Philadelphia — spoke to the team's leadership council during OTAs. The player had won a Super Bowl. After we won, the former player said, the next thing I wanted to do was win for all the new coaches and players there. That drove me, too. Sirianni said those words made him think of a coach like Frazier (whom he'd coached with in Indianapolis), of a player like Jackson. Neither has won a Super Bowl. Neither has experienced one at all. It's another reason why Sirianni avoids the word 'repeat.' For a sizable portion of the team and coaching staff, that word is completely useless. No, it's about that different mountain, Sirianni said. He said Christian Parker, the team's defensive passing game coordinator, suggested to him a book of 'daily wisdom.' In it, Sirianni said the book stressed how marathon runners 'run the mile they're in.' They don't think about the miles they've already run. They don't think about the miles that are coming up. Sirianni will draw motivation from those running with him. 'That's one thing that will always drive me,' Sirianni said, 'is trying to get the best for everybody on our football team and those guys that didn't experience that journey that we had last year, to have them be able to experience that.' (Top photo of Nick Sirianni: Kyle Ross / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Josh Hart Has Hilarious Reaction to Knicks Head Coaching News
Josh Hart Has Hilarious Reaction to Knicks Head Coaching News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Knicks shocked many when they decided to move on from Tom Thibodeau following the team's elimination to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. They will now have one of the top coaching vacancies in the NBA. Advertisement Thibodeau brought a lot of success to the Knicks during his time there. In five seasons with the team, the head coach managed to reach the NBA Playoffs in four of them. Thibodeau was also responsible for getting New York to their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance is 2000, falling short of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 by two wins. Leon Rose and the organization did not deem this to be enough. Citing a desire to be better-aligned with their championship dreams, the Knicks clearly did not believe Thibodeau would be the man to get them to the promised land. New York has looked in several directions ever since. Advertisement One of those directions involved retired coach Jay Wright. The Villanova players on the Knicks would be very familiar with Wright considering he served as the head coach for the school during their time there. May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and guard Josh Hart (3) celebrate after defeating the Detroit Pistons during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images However, Ian Begley reported on Twitter/X that the Knicks will not be adding the friendly face to the organization. Begley wrote, "With regard to reports/suggestions of Jay Wright as a Knick coaching candidate, yes, team president Leon Rose & Wright have a close relationship and speak regularly. Because of that, Rose knows Wright is very happy as a retiree, per league source. So Wright is not a candidate for the job, league source said." Advertisement Josh Hart had no love lost for his old coach. The Knicks fan favorite responded to the report from Begley, joking about his lack of desire to reunite with Wright. Hart can sleep easy at night knowing whatever prompted this response will be kept away from his current organization. Related: Biggest Fix Knicks Must Make in 2025 NBA Offseason Related: New York Knicks Landing Superstar Could Benefit Jalen Brunson Most This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks get Jay Wright clarity in their head coach search
For as long as the 'Nova Knicks were around, Jay Wright was considered the most logical succession plan if Tom Thibodeau was bounced. But as it turns out, Wright is 'happy in retirement' and not a candidate for the vacant Knicks position, as first reported by The Post. Advertisement Wright, 63, has close ties to several members of the Knicks, including team president Leon Rose. Their regular conversations led to Rose's understanding that Wright isn't interested in returning to the sideline, a league source said. As the wildly successful head coach at Villanova, Wright guided Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart to multiple national titles before retiring in 2022 amid the rise of NIL. He's now at CBS as a TV analyst for college basketball. Just last year, Wright told The Post he wasn't interested in coaching again as speculation swirled about the open Lakers gig. Jay Wright is not going to be a Knicks coaching candidate. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 'No,' Wright said. 'It's humbling that someone would even mention you or think about you. I've been around so long, all the guys who are making the decisions, I know those guys. I wasn't talking to [Lakers general manager] Rob Pelinka at the end of that. There were no conversations. Advertisement 'You know you can't stop it, so you have to sit back and say it's part of the business. When you're not coaching anymore, you're still kind of flattered that somebody would think of you.' Jalen Brunson and Jay Wright in 2017. Paul J. Bereswill With Wright out of the picture, much of the noise recently has centered on Jason Kidd, who is being targeted by the Knicks, a source confirmed, but carries the conundrum of being under contract with the Mavericks. According to veteran NBA writer Marc Stein, the Knicks are prepared to ask Dallas for permission to interview Kidd. There's no guarantee it would be granted, but it's worth noting that Kidd, who has two years remaining on the extension he signed during the 2024 Finals run, successfully maneuvered himself out of a Brooklyn Nets contract over a decade ago to join Milwaukee. Advertisement Like Wright, Kidd also coached Brunson. They spent a year together in Dallas, when Brunson blossomed from a role player to a scoring stud in the 2022 playoffs. Of Brunson's three NBA coaches, the point guard ranked Kidd as second. Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd looks on during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at the American Airlines Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 'I'm going to say Thibs, No. 1. Thibs helped me become an All-Star,' Brunson said on his podcast, 'The Roommates Show' a couple of months ago. 'J-Kidd is No. 2. J-Kidd gave me the confidence to be better and perform better.' The third coach was current Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who recently eliminated the Knicks for a second straight postseason. Carlisle guided Brunson for his first three seasons in Dallas. Advertisement As The Post reported, the Knicks are emphasizing experience in their search and would be comfortable without a hire until Summer League, which starts in about a month. They shockingly fired Thibodeau on Tuesday after the franchise's first run to the conference finals in 25 years, with Rose explaining the move with a statement that read, 'Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship.' Since then, at least three potential candidates have either been removed via statements or sourced reporting. Danny Hurley, the UConn coach, told reporters he wouldn't endure another summer of NBA job hunting after last year's heavy flirtation with the Lakers. Ime Udoka would be a candidate, but his current team, the Rockets, 'has no interest' in allowing him to interview with the Knicks, according to The Athletic. Now Wright is officially out.
Fox Sports
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Former Villanova coach Jay Wright not interested in Knicks head coach job
Jay Wright will not be the next head coach of the New York Knicks. The former Villanova men's basketball head coach has informed the Knicks that he's not interested in succeeding Tom Thibodeau and will remain retired, he told Sports Illustrated. Wright added in his comments to Sports Illustrated that he and Knicks president Leon Rose briefly discussed the position. Even though he and Rose are good friends, Wright reiterated his plans to remain retired as he never asked to interview for the vacancy. In the moments after Thibodeau was fired, Wright was immediately viewed as a top candidate to replace him. He coached three of the Knicks' top players in college, winning multiple national championships with guard Jalen Brunson and forward Mikal Bridges. He also won a national title coaching wing Josh Hart. However, some insiders viewed the Knicks' chances at obtaining the two-time national championship-winning head coach as a bit of a long shot. "Jay Wright is enjoying red wine, basketball, television and his family," FOX Sports college basketball expert John Fanta recently said on "The Herd." "If he wanted to coach again, he'd be the Villanova coach. "Jay Wright is not going anywhere." Wright, 63, announced his retirement from Villanova after leading the Wildcats to the Final Four in 2022. That marked his fourth Final Four trip as Villanova's head coach, winning eight Big East regular-season titles and five Big East Tournament titles to go with his two national championship victories. Wright is one of multiple coaches with Big East ties who have said they don't plan to pursue the Knicks' head coach gig. St. John's coach Rick Pitino, who coached the Knicks for two seasons in the late 1980s, said he was "absolutely not" interested in becoming New York's next head coach. UConn's Dan Hurley, meanwhile, sidestepped a question about his possible interest in the job. In addition to those three, a pair of other rumored Knicks candidates seem unlikely to interview for the job. New York has reportedly expressed interest in Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. But after capturing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference during the 2024-25 season, the Rockets aren't interested in letting the Knicks potentially negotiate a deal and trade involving Udoka, per The Athletic . As for Kidd, the Knicks reportedly planned to ask the Mavericks for permission to interview their head coach. However, the Mavericks are expected to turn down any request the Knicks make to interview Kidd, longtime NBA insider Marc Stein reported Saturday. Beyond those five candidates, former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone and current Cleveland Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant have been viewed as possibilities for the Knicks' head coach job. Bryant is the current betting favorite for the job, while Malone has the second-best odds, via DraftKings Sportsbook. Bryant, who was the Knicks' associate head coach from 2020-24, was one of the finalists for the Phoenix Suns' head coach vacancy, but they named fellow Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their next head coach on Friday. Malone, who grew up near Madison Square Garden in Queens, was fired by the Nuggets with less than a week to go in the regular season. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jay Wright snubs Knicks head coach job after Tom Thibodeau firing... despite close links to team
Legendary college basketball head coach Jay Wright has no interest in returning to the sidelines, reportedly declining interest in the vacant New York Knicks head-coaching job. Wright has been away from coaching since stepping down as Villanova's coach in 2022 after 21 years leading the Wildcats. In his time at the private-school powerhouse, Wright had a 520-197 record and won two national titles. Wright, 63, trading in his broadcast job for a clipboard again generated serious fan interest after Tom Thibodeau was fired as the team's coach on Tuesday, combined with three Villanova alumni in the Knicks' core. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges all played for Wright in the Philadelphia suburb. A Big East reunion is not in the cards in the Big Apple, per Seth Davis. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges all played for Wright as Villanova's head coach Wright has worked for both CBS Sports and TNT Sports since his Villanova career ended. The Knicks' vacancy underscores the team's desire to win a championship, with the eventual hire needing to hang a banner inside Madison Square Garden for it to be seen as a successful tenure. Wright no doubt has the basketball pedigree to be considered able to pull off the feat. Now, the Knicks will look elsewhere. The team was linked with Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd earlier this week, while another longshot, home-run hire in Dan Hurley still exists. Other options include Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant and former Nuggets head coach Michael Malone among coaches with connections to the team or available leaders with previous championships.
