Nick Sirianni is the hottest coach in the NFL right now. The Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach, known for showing his personality and often viewed as an unlikable figure by rivals, has led the Eagles to two Super Bowls in the last three years, winning the title last season with a dominant performance in the final.
Like every coach, his journey started humbly, holding smaller roles early in his NFL career. His first job on an NFL coaching staff was with the Kansas City Chiefs, the team he faced in both of his Super Bowl appearances. The coach who hired him shared what it was like working with Sirianni and gave details about the beginning of his career.
Ex-Kansas City Chiefs HC Todd Haley Reveals Nick Sirianni’s Unconventional NFL Start
Sirianni is now regarded as one of the best strategists in the NFL. Although he no longer calls plays during games, he is responsible for designing the system in Philadelphia, and his greatest strength has been understanding what the modern NFL game demands and how to get the most out of his players.
The Eagles’ offense, an area where Sirianni has the most expertise due to his previous roles, has improved each season and increasingly embraced the league’s offensive trends. In 2024, that evolution became clear with the integration of Saquon Barkley into the system. It’s also impossible to ignore the Tush Push, a play the league even considered banning because of how flawlessly the Eagles execute it.
The person who first brought Sirianni into the NFL was former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley. In 2009, Haley recognized Sirianni’s potential and hired him as an offensive quality control coach to assist with tape studies, marking the beginning of his NFL coaching journey. The former coach shared what their first meeting was like and his early impressions of Sirianni.
Todd Haley gave Nick Sirianni his big break, after Sirianni started timing his YMCA workouts to be around Haley, who was an NFL assistant at the time.
“I thought he was a stalker.” 🤣
How Nick got the job, grew as a coach and what he thinks now. *Awesome* TIF debut from Todd. pic.twitter.com/BlzQOnaENH
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) June 24, 2025
“I thought he was a stalker,” Haley joked. “No, I mean, I grew up going to the place where he grew up … He was a receiver at Mount Union and I would go to the YMCA at the lake where my father had a place, and this kid would follow me around and happen to be there every day when I went there to work out.
“Eventually he came up to me and told me who he was, you know, he was a player and he knew who I was and he was looking for some drills and ways to get better as a player, you know, so that’s how we met.”
Sirianni’s persistence in learning from Haley paid off. He noticed Sirianni’s drive to improve and, once he had the opportunity to become an NFL head coach, invited him to join his staff. Haley said he appreciated Sirianni’s work ethic and felt confident after seeing how the former wide receiver was willing to do whatever it took to get better.
Mentor to Eagles Head Coach: Haley Saw Sirianni’s Drive Early On
That potential eventually turned into something concrete for Sirianni, who moved up the ranks with the Chiefs and became an assistant quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach. His breakout moment came later as offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020, which ultimately led to his hiring as head coach in Philadelphia.
“At certain times when guys just have that little something special, you know, that drive, whatever it is, plus the football awareness and intelligence. So, you know, it was all there on display. And when we were together in Kansas City, I mean, there wasn’t a time he wasn’t bugging me,” Haley added.
Haley’s last job in the NFL was as offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2018. He worked with Sirianni from 2009 to 2011 and also spent six years as offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, from 2012 to 2017.
Today, Sirianni has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NFL, with his innovative offensive schemes and ability to maximize player potential serving as hallmarks of his coaching philosophy. The relationship between mentor and student continues to this day, with both coaches maintaining a close bond forged during those early years in Kansas City.