Eagles legend praises Nick Sirianni for bold Super Bowl banner-raising decision

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni generated headlines when he shared earlier this week that he and his players wouldn't be on the field for the Super Bowl LIX banner-raising ceremony ahead of Philadelphia's regular-season opener versus the rival Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. 

During a chat with Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital, Eagles legend and NFL analyst Brian Westbrook explained why he loves how Sirianni and Co. have handled being the reigning Super Bowl champions since February. 

No "victory lap" for Eagles

"The one thing I love about this team this offseason was their approach," Westbrook said. "This offseason wasn’t about them doing a victory lap around Philadelphia and the United States, saying they’re the best team in football, they beat the reigning champs, and they did this, that and the other. It wasn’t about that. It was about refocusing. It was about saying, 'Yeah, we won last year, but we have something else we want to prove, and one is not enough. Now, we have to go out there and earn it again.'"

Brooks Kubena of The Athletic is among those who have noted that Sirianni often avoided using the word "repeat" throughout the summer, in part because he wants his players to "run the mile they’re in." 

In July, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts revealed he wasn't spotted wearing his championship ring on the night he and his teammates were presented with the hardware because he had "moved on to the new year." While Hurts earned Super Bowl LIX Most Valuable Player Award honors, some said following that contest that a stellar offensive line and 2024 Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley were mostly responsible for all that the Eagles achieved last season. 

Such takes are one reason Westbrook thinks Hurts still has a "chip on his shoulder" heading into the game against the Cowboys. 

The Eagles' "awesome leader" who isn't Saquon Barkley

"People are still doubting him," Westbrook said about Hurts. "Super Bowl MVP, and people are still doubting him. So, Jalen walks around with a little chip on his shoulder, and I appreciate that because I played with that as well. His ability to lead this team is going to say a lot, and I think he’s an awesome leader."

As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had Hurts tied for seventh among the betting favorites at +2000 odds to claim MVP for the 2025 season. Hurts allegedly is "a lot more confident than any other year," and it also seems like he still has a desire to silence critics despite the fact that he will forever be known as a Super Bowl champion.