Columnist urges Sirianni to take back play-calling duties for final nine games

The Philadelphia Eagles should let head coach Nick Sirianni call offensive plays for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to a column published in the Philadelphia Inquirer Bucks edition on Tuesday. The piece argues that this move offers a final, definitive test of Sirianni’s capabilities as a play-caller. If he succeeds, he keeps his job. If he fails, the organization should move on.

The column notes that Sirianni was hired by owner Jeffrey Lurie in 2021 with the specific expectation that he would serve as both the head coach and the offensive coordinator. This dual role was intended to provide stability for quarterback Jalen Hurts during his early career. However, Sirianni surrendered play-calling duties after a 2-5 start to his tenure. He has not resumed those duties in the four seasons since.

The Eagles are currently in a slump, sitting in their first six-game losing streak in 14 years. The team is the only squad in the NFC with six losses and ranks as the lowest-scoring team in the conference by nearly a field goal. The column identifies Sean Mannion, the current offensive coordinator, as a primary factor in this decline. Mannion is in his first year as a coordinator and has coached for only two and a half seasons total. He previously served as an offensive assistant in Green Bay in 2024 and as a quarterbacks coach in 2025.

The writer compares Sirianni to the character James “Toofer” Spurlock from the sitcom “30 Rock.” In the show, Toofer is a character who satisfies multiple corporate requirements simultaneously. The column suggests Sirianni was hired to be a similar hybrid leader who could manage the team and design the offense. Previous head coaches under Lurie, including Andy Reid, Chip Kelly, and Doug Pederson, were also hired with the expectation that they would call plays.

The column points out that the Eagles have switched offensive coordinators in each of the last four seasons. Two of those changes occurred because the coordinators left for head coaching positions elsewhere. The other two involved Sirianni promoting individuals with limited experience. This lack of continuity has prevented Jalen Hurts from having the same offensive coordinator in consecutive seasons since the 2022 campaign began.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts will not play again this season due to blood clots in his lungs. Tanner McKee is currently the starting quarterback. The column states that Sirianni must devise a feasible game plan and call logical plays for McKee during the remaining nine games. The success or failure of these games will determine his future as the head coach.

Sirianni has won two NFC titles and a Super Bowl and made the playoffs in all five seasons. The column concludes that he deserves another chance to prove he can call plays. If he cannot demonstrate that ability, the Eagles should replace him with someone who can.