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.
5th – Nick Sirianni
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.
According to sources: Jalen big contract-pulled in numerous directions on/off field put him under a lot of pressure he didn’t handle well ..
— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunn) February 21, 2024
Big Dom suspended-controls Sirianni emotions on sideline ,in his absence Nick gets in numerous arguments with players/coaches during games
4th – Rob Thomson
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.
3rd – Jim Curtin
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.
2nd – Nick Nurse
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.
1st – John Tortorella
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.
Watch The John Kincade Show on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page for discussion about the latest breaking sports news in Philadelphia.
List of Philadelphia Eagles Picks at the 2024 NFL Draft
1st Round (22nd-Overall)
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.
2nd Round (50th-Overall)
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.
2nd Round (53th-Overall)
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.
4th-Round Pick (120th-Overall)
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.
5th-Round Pick (161st-Overall)
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.
5th-Round Compensatory Pick (171st-Overall)
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.
5th-Round Compensatory Pick (172nd-Overall)
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.
6th-Round Compensatory Pick (210th-Overall)
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.
