Easy as 2021? Better Think Again
If the Philadelphia Eagles join the growing opinion of both National and local media outlets and decide to go in a completely different direction at the end of this season—turning over the roster and purging themselves of large contracts at that same time — it might just feel like the task will be as achievable as it was back in 2021.
But those organizational changes that led to a quick Eagles turnaround and subsequent playoff appearance are unlikely to have as fast an impact in 2026.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Doug Pederson — just three years removed from the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory — had ended the season 4–11–1. Making things even worse, they benched rookie QB Jalen Hurts in the second half of a meaningless game , opting instead for Nate Sudfeld to finish out the season against the Washington Commanders. The Eagles loss knocked the New York Giants from playoff contention—a move that cast a veil of impropriety over the offseason. After a series of winter meetings, the last of which was Pederson visiting Lurie in Florida, Philadelphia dismissed him as head coach.
What ensued was a whirlwind of events. The Eagles hired the youthful Nick Sirianni to coach the Eagles. An entirely new coaching staff also joined; Jalen Hurts was named the starting quarterback, and Carson Wentz was traded to Indianapolis, where Nick Sirianni had come from. The result was an 9–8 record and an appearance in the NFC Playoffs after only one down year and hiatus.
But 2021 had several things going for it that 2026 does not.
The Eagles already had a franchise quarterback in the building besides Wentz when they traded him. Jalen Hurts had been in the Novacare Complex for a year prior. If Hurts does not return as QB1 next season , the Eagles would undoubtedly need to find another franchise quarterback.
And whether you think Nick Sirianni has done a good job here recently, he’s only one of two Eagles coaches to ever win a Super Bowl and the only one to go to two. If Lurie blames him for the Sean Mannion offensive debacle despite the injuries—it won’t be easy to find a coach of that pedigree again—especially one who can turn the franchise around that quickly.
Since the 1940s, almost every time the Eagles have been contending for a Championship, they’ve had a top defense. By January 2021, the Eagles were ranked 19th in the NFL in total defense and 3rd in sacks. By the end of Sirianni’s first season, the defense ranked 10th in the NFL. The current Eagles defense (now ranked 27th in the NFL) would need a serious turnaround over the next year, especially given a line that has already invested $328 million in contract extensions.
And perhaps most importantly, when both Nick Sirianni and Doug Pederson advanced to the Super Bowl in their second seasons, they had impactful, well-established offensive and defensive lines. As explained on WIP Radio on Monday by former Eagles linebacker and Analyst Seth Joyner , Sirianni inherited significant talent on the offensive line and an improving defensive line. Doug Pederson also recovered the same when he took over from Chip Kelly, contributing to the Super Bowl LII Eagles victory over New England.
The 4–11–1 Eagles beaten in Landover, Maryland, by the Washington Commanders in 2021 still had a strong nucleus that bounced back quickly the next season under Sirianni—and already had a rookie who would become its franchise quarterback.
Could it be that easy to turn this team around in less than 24 months?
Absolutely; just don’t bet on it.
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Categorized:Eagles