Eagles HC Nick Sirianni is down but not out: 'I'm going to prove them right again'

It was a tough ending for Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and that's putting it lightly.

After starting the season off 10-1, Sirianni's team absolutely collapsed down the stretch. The Eagles lost five of their last six regular-season games before bowing out Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 32-9, in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

It was a collapse of epic proportions and one that saw offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and defensive coordinator Sean Desai lose their jobs in the days following the team's playoff loss.

As for Sirianni? There were certainly questions regarding whether or not he lost his locker room – often a fire-able offense in the NFL – but the head coach subsequently had a meeting with Eagles' CEO Jeffrey Lurie that he afterward labeled as "business as usual."

That's not to say Sirianni isn't feeling the heat, though.

"In my mind, you better believe I'm thinking, 'How do I reprove myself?' I was a young coach that Mr. Lurie and Howie (Roseman) and this organization trusted to give the job to. I had to prove myself that this guy can lead the organization like they asked me to, and I had to prove myself from then," Sirianni said at his end-of-season news conference, per ESPN. "Did I have to sell my vision [to Lurie]? No, because it was business as usual, but you better believe I'm thinking after that 1-6 finish ... that I'm going to prove them right again."

Sirianni does have some history in the bank that likely kept him around after this terrible finish. After going 9-8 in his first season, he took the Eagles to the Super Bowl in his second year. They ultimately lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, but the former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator appeared to be a young head coach on the rise.

To have things crumble the way they did at the end of this season? Sirianni is right, he's going to have to prove himself again. In today's NFL and especially in Philadelphia, he may not be afforded many more chances.