Ranking 5 Philadelphia Sports Head Coaches

The Phillies are well underway with their preparations for the 2024 season down in Clearwater while the Union are ready to open up their MLS slate this weekend. The spring will bring playoff drama yet again for the 76ers based on the health of a "hopefully” returning Joel Embiid. Can the Flyers crash the playoff party way ahead of schedule? Oh yeah, we are less than 200 days until Nick Sirianni returns to sidelines for the Eagles!

With all five of these franchises, leadership is mission critical. I ask you, which coach or manager do you trust the most with critical decision making? Each candidate has success on his resume, but when it’s crunch time, who do you think comes through with a great idea to swing a contest? I’ll give you my order.

This offseason revealed a lot about what Nick Sirianni does day to day and on the sidelines as the Eagles head coach. He is more of an administrator than a strategist. He is more team psychologist than mastermind, and last year he failed miserably at keeping the team unified. With the game on the line, it’s hard to believe he knows how to push the right buttons.

Thomson is a fantastic leader and creates a positive work environment. His players love working for him. This exercise isn’t about those qualities. Two seasons in a row with a critical postseason series in his grip, questionable decisions have helped to sink his team. He says he will learn from his mistakes, but I’ll have to see it to believe it.

Jim Curtin has helped create buzz and excitement for the obvious fifth pro franchise in town, but he has quickly learned that expectations can dampen local enthusiasm. His team has come close to breaking through, but the disappointment of the 2022 collapse looms in the collective memory.

He came to town with the championship ring and the resume that gains him immediate respect. That pedigree gives him a grace period heading into his first postseason where his team won’t be favored in any round.

It’s a great chance to show what he can do as an underdog. He has shown creativity this season and an innovation fans have been clamoring for. I trust the 76ers have a strategist in charge.

He also has the championship on his resume, and he also has the experience. Tortorella has long tenures with three different NHL franchises. He is a teacher with a plan.

He has shown the ability to get the most juice out of a roster that most experts believed was a lemon. His team has a defense first, all-in mentality. His attention to detail gets him the top spot on my trust list.

The Philadelphia Eagles will likely enter the 2024 NFL Draft with eight picks. They interestingly only occupy only two of their original spots in the natural draft order. The volume of trades and maneuvers only make things more interesting throughout the most impactful weekend of the NFL offseason in downtown Detroit at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza.

The 22nd-overall pick will dominate the chatter leading up to the big day on Thursday, April 25. However, the remainder of the draft on April 26 and 27th could be just as consequential for the future of the franchise.

An aggressive general manager like Howie Roseman will always make things exciting. Look no further than a trade to land A.J. Brown on draft night in 2022 or a maneuver to swipe DeVonta Smith from the New York Giants in 2021. 

What does he have up his sleeve this year? The decision to trade Carson Wentz during the 2021 offseason enacted a trickle-down effect that’s helped the Eagles in three consecutive drafts. The loaded ammo finally runs out after the Eagles (presumably) use the 2nd-rounder from the New Orleans Saints in 2024.

The Eagles received four compensatory picks after the NFL announces the final draft order in March 2024. The key elements of the formula include the losses of key free agents like Javon Hargrave, T.J. Edwards, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency after the loss in Super Bowl LVII. The league’s compensatory formula also factors in minority candidates who leave an organization to take a job as a head coach or a general manager. 

The four compensatory picks will arm Roseman with some additional ammo to make moves early in the draft if he chooses to. The Eagles certainly have their fair share of needs after losing six of their final seven games.

How will Roseman choose to use his picks? If history has taught Philadelphia fans anything, be alert for some surprises before the Eagles are on the clock with the 22nd-overall pick on April 25.

Fans hoped the Eagles might pick a little bit later in the 1st round. The Eagles had the best record in the NFL when the calendar turned to November. The late-season slide and the early playoff exit has them in position to draft 22nd.

Their primary needs include offensive tackle, edge rusher, and cornerback. The Eagles selected Andre Dillard the last time they occupied the 22nd-overall spot in 2019.

Howie Roseman executed a blockbuster in 2022 with three 1st-round picks at his disposal. The mega-trade with the New Orleans Saints helped the Eagles get into position to acquire A.J. Brown and Jalen Carter. The last asset of the trade will materialize in 2024.

The Eagles still own their own 2nd-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Their first two picks are the only two of their seven total picks that weren’t acquired by trade or the compensatory formula. Memorable 2nd-round picks include Brian Dawkins, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, and Zach Ertz.

The Eagles acquired their 4th-round pick as part of the Kenny Pickett trade. They dealt a 3rd-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in what was essentially a trade back into a lower round. The deal also included a pair of 7th-round picks in 2025 that Howie Roseman sent to Western PA.

The name Jalen Reagor doesn’t spark many positive memories for Eagles fans. Roseman did trade the botched 1st-rounder for a reasonable return, however.

The Eagles cut their losses and walked away with a 7th-rounder in 2023 and a 5th-rounder in 2024. Reagor did not meet the conditions that could’ve moved this year’s pick to the 4th round.

The 2022 Eagles faced an unusual situation. They didn’t even worry about extending impending free agents during the season because there were too many key contributors on expiring contracts.

Javon Hargrave, T.J. Edwards, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson were among the key players who signed free-agent contracts and added to the compensatory formula that impacted the Eagles at the 2024 NFL Draft.

A pick in the 5th round of the NFL Draft might not look like much. Roseman has his fair share of good picks in the late rounds, however. He grabbed Kenny Gainwell and Halapoulivaati Vaitai to become solid contributors, and the franchise landed steals Trent Cole and Brent Celek out of Cincinnati in previous drafts.

NFL teams are happy if picks from the later rounds end up as contributors on special teams or short-term starters who give minimal contributions.

The occasional Hall of Famer doesn’t come along often, but remember that Jason Kelce came off the board in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft after the Eagles selected Danny Watkins in the 1st round. You just never know.