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Jun 10, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni addresses media during a press conference at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Nick Sirianni lauds Jason Kelce & Brandon Graham for Jalen Carter’s special role

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles | By Gourab Saha | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 10:00 AM ET

You know that feeling when your favorite blues track starts slow, just a simple, mournful guitar riff. It simmers. You lean in, waiting for the moment the whole band kicks in and the room shakes. For three quarters on Sunday, the Eagles’ season opener had that slow, anxious build. The rhythm was off. Something was missing.

Then, suddenly, the whole damn band exploded into a symphony of chaos and triumph. The final note, however, wasn’t scored by a usual headline act. It was a masterpiece composed in the trenches.

Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham & the Culture of the Play

Head coach Nick Sirianni revealed the secret ingredient on Monday. It wasn't a new playbook page. Instead, it was a deeply ingrained culture. When asked why stars like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis were on the field goal block unit, Sirianni pointed to the team's foundation. “I think that's just the selflessness of our football team,” Sirianni stated. Moreover, he highlighted veterans like Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham as the standard-setters.

"I think you look back at some of our good pushes from the last couple years—you have Jordan Davis on it, you have Jalen Carter, you had Brandon Graham on it," Nick stated. "And it's like, 'Oh, Brandon Graham's a 15-year vet; he's still on this.' Boom. You know, it paints you a picture of all those guys. And I give so much credit to Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox—of them carrying that culture—and now Lane and all the guys we have now carrying the culture."

This philosophy is like a well-oiled pit crew in a NASCAR race. Every member, regardless of prestige, has a job that wins the race. Consequently, when a 15-year vet like Graham would charge hard on special teams, a young star like Carter has no choice but to follow. And this ethos directly created Sunday’s miracle.

A Legacy of Effort

The image is powerful. Imagine a future Hall of Famer like Graham, in his 15th season, throwing his body into blocking a kick. That visual painted the picture for everyone else. And Sirianni sees this as the core of the team's identity. “It's team. It's together,” he emphasized. This collective spirit allows the Eagles to win in unconventional ways.

Sirianni didn’t just praise the effort. He also highlighted the preparation. The game-winning block was the 57th snap for Jordan Davis. That’s a heavy load for any man, let alone one his size. Sirianni connected the dots to the offseason.

“Jalen Carter has worked himself back into getting in the best shape of his life, and Jordan Davis—there's been a lot of talk about how he's in the best shape of his life,” Sirianni noted. Therefore, when the game was on the line, they still had gas in the tank. Their extreme conditioning paid the ultimate dividend. Now, this team-first mentality has a ripple effect across the roster.

More Than Just a Block

When defensive stars happily do the dirty work, it inspires offensive linemen to do the same. Sirianni made sure to “flip it to the other side,” praising Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson for their special teams duty. This creates an unbreakable bond. And suddenly, a 19-point deficit feels surmountable because everyone is in the fight together. So, what does this mean for the Eagles' future?

It’s a blueprint for surviving a brutal NFL season. They won’t always have their A-game on offense. Sometimes, the script will be ugly. However, a culture this strong provides a constant safety net. Expect copycats, but culture can’t be photocopied. It’s soaked in sweat, sealed by veterans, and signed in the end zone at 18.59 mph—Davis’ GPS-verified scoop-and-score speed.

The Eagles visit Tampa next. If the streak hits ten, remember the moment Kelce and Graham handed Carter the wheel and said, 'Floor it, kid—just don’t scratch the Bell.'

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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