Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni expressed regret on Monday night for his emotional reaction to a hard hit on quarterback Jalen Hurts during the team’s 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Sirianni, visibly upset after Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson delivered a late hit on Hurts as he stepped out of bounds, was captured on camera yelling an obscenity in Jackson’s direction. The hit drew an unnecessary roughness penalty, but Hurts was evaluated for a concussion and briefly left the game. The Eagles’ offense struggled throughout, committing three turnovers, including an interception by backup quarterback Andy Dalton in the red zone.
Sirianni’s apology and postgame remarks
Sirianni addressed the incident during a postgame news conference, acknowledging his frustration while emphasizing his respect for the opposing player. “I always come away when I have a moment like that with remorse,” Sirianni said. “I shouldn’t have let my emotions get the best of me. Those guys are out there trying to make a play. It was close on the sideline, ended up being a penalty. Obviously you never want to see your quarterback get hit like that, but it’s in the heat of the moment.”
He added, “The emotion of the game probably got the better of me today and I have to learn from that in that particular moment. I have to be more steady in that situation and be able to move on and go to the next play. I didn’t like how I handled that.”
Eagles’ offensive struggles highlighted
The loss marked the Eagles’ first defeat of the season, with their offense managing just 248 total yards and failing to score in the first quarter. Hurts completed 16 of 25 passes for 153 yards with one interception and no passing touchdowns, while Saquon Barkley rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith, despite leading the team with six receptions for 65 yards, criticized the team’s turnover issues postgame. “You turn the ball over, you’re going to get your ass whooped,” Smith told reporters.
Coaching decisions scrutinized
The Eagles’ offensive performance drew criticism, with former NFL linebacker Manti Te’o blaming offensive coordinator Sean Mannion for the team’s struggles. “Sean Mannion, in my opinion, has the most to do with this,” Te’o said on Good Morning Football. “He didn’t have any experience calling plays outside of his dad’s high school football team and the East-West Shrine game.”
Sirianni also addressed a controversial fourth-down decision in the third quarter, when the Eagles punted on fourth-and-1 rather than attempting a conversion. “As I look back at that, I probably should have went for it there,” Sirianni admitted. “Didn’t like that decision.”
Bears’ backup quarterback shines
Chicago’s Case Keenum, filling in for injured starter Caleb Williams, delivered a career-best performance, completing 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He also scored a rushing touchdown, helping the Bears secure their second win of the season. Keenum’s emotional postgame speech to teammates underscored the significance of the victory, particularly for his family, who were in attendance.
Bears coach’s controversial remarks
Bears head coach Ben Johnson drew attention for a comment about calling plays for a less mobile quarterback, seemingly referencing Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Johnson, who previously served as Detroit’s offensive coordinator, smirked while responding to a question about the difference between managing Keenum’s and Williams’ play styles. “I’ve got a little history with that, of calling plays for someone not so mobile,” Johnson said, drawing chuckles from reporters. His remarks sparked reactions from Lions fans, some of whom criticized the perceived disrespect toward Goff.
Aftermath and next steps
The Eagles, now 2-1 on the season, will look to rebound in their Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, the Bears improved to 2-1, with Keenum’s performance raising questions about Chicago’s offensive system under Johnson, regardless of Williams’ eventual return.