PHOENIX ā Nick Sirianni often credits Frank Reich for his development as a head coach.
The mentor also learned from the student.
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Before leading the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl in just his second season as a head coach, Sirianni spent three years as the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts under Reich from 2018-20. They also worked together as assistants for three years with the Chargers.
While Reich focuses on evaluating his new team in Carolina, Sirianni is preparing the Eagles (16-3) for the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs (16-3) on Sunday.
Reich hasnāt been surprised by Sirianniās quick rise.
āHeās got an incredible ability to connect with players and itās just authentic, itās genuine,ā Reich told the AP Pro Football Podcast. āItās easy for him because he cares. Heās just really good at that. Heās also an elite offensive mind. Heās a great game-planner. Heās got that coaching pedigree. We worked together for six years. It was a real highlight. I know heās always complimentary because Iām like the older brother who mentored him, but trust me, this was a two-way street. We both benefited from it and Iāve learned a lot from that.ā
With the biggest game of his life approaching, Sirianni draws from the lessons he learned from his time working with Reich.
āFrank would always say this to me: āNo man suddenly becomes different than his cherished thoughts and habits.ā Meaning no one suddenly becomes different. You are who youāve been the whole time,ā Sirianni said. āThis is a bigger game than this or this. Theyāve all been big. I show a picture to the team every week of a mountain. Thereās the top of the mountain, you can see it, but the guyās vision is just on the steps right there (ahead). Your focus doesnāt change because the situation or the game around you or the opponent changes. You still focus on one step at a time. The higher you climb on the mountain ... it gets windier, the conditions get tougher, it gets a little steeper, it gets a little harder to breathe. So now what an unbelievable time to just focus on the next step and donāt look up.ā
Sirianniās success in Philadelphia is largely due to the development of quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was a finalist for AP NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. Hurts took a giant leap in his second season in Sirianniās system.
Reich didnāt have the opportunity to coach the same starting QB two seasons in a row in Indianapolis after Andrew Luck abruptly retired in 2019. He went from Luck to Jacoby Brissett to Philip Rivers to Carson Wentz to Matt Ryan.
The Panthers used three starting quarterbacks while going 7-10 in 2022. Reich knows finding a franchise quarterback is a top priority. Heās working with general manager Scott Fitterer and owner David Tepper to identify the right one.
āItās a big deal,ā Reich said. āItās just a question of having a plan and executing the plan. Looking forward to that process. Thatāll be very enjoyable, studying the quarterbacks both in college and free agents, everybody thatās available. Every option is open. But the main thing, as weāve talked about, itās really looking for stability there. Thatās really what you need for the consistency that we want to show.ā
Reichās return to Carolina where he was the franchiseās first starting quarterback in 1995 allows him to expand ākNot Today,ā a nonprofit that works to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. Reich and his wife, Linda, formed the organization a year after he became the head coach with the Colts.
āThis is a massive problem,ā Reich said. āFifty million people are estimated to be victims of modern slavery, over 10 million of those are children. Human trafficking and slavery is a $150 billion industry, which should make us all sick. ... Our response is to join together as a team, and everybody do our part. For ākNot Today,ā weāre about really trying to do three things. We want to push legislation that will protect children. We want to really focus on prevention education. Thatās a really big deal. Last year in the state of Indianapolis, we helped do prevention education for many students. And then we want to help support law enforcement.ā
The Reichs are partnering with International Justice Mission to also help trafficking victims on an international level.
āTheyāve been leaders in this industry for a long time and weāre trying to play our part,ā Reich said. āBut each one of us have a part, parents, coaches, we all have a part in the process. This is all hands on deck. Letās each play our part in protecting children from sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking.ā
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