Saquon Barkley once hated Nick Sirianni, now he’d run through a brick wall for him

There once was a time, not all that long ago, when Saquon Barkley looked at Nick Sirianni the same way Eagles fans look at anything involving their NFC East opponents, with pure, unfiltered disgust.

Before Barkley ever put on midnight green, before he was breaking ankles at the Linc instead of MetLife, he flat-out couldn’t stand the Eagles’ head coach.

Which honestly, coming from a former Giants player, that tracks.

Saquon Barkley on Nick Sirianni

Saquon Barkley said he used to hate Nick Sirianni — also said he’s the perfect coach for the city of Philadelphia. He had some high praise for Nick. pic.twitter.com/p85BiO950M

— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) December 24, 2025

That beef started in January 2023, after the Eagles steamrolled the Giants 38–7 in the playoffs. The score wasn’t what stuck with Barkley.

Sirianni, fresh off ending the Giants’ season, was caught on camera nodding, smiling, soaking it all in like a guy who knew exactly what he just did to you. It was arguably my favorite moment of Sirianni’s tenure with the Eagles so far, total meme or GIF behavior.

Barkley’s reaction to it wasn’t anywhere near the same as mine…

Barkley admitted this week that when he saw that clip back then, his reaction was immediate and visceral. He didn’t like Sirianni at all. Not even a little.

Fast forward fourteen months, and the irony is delicious.

Barkley isn’t watching Sirianni from the opposite sideline anymore. He’s in his locker room. He’s in his meetings. He’s hearing his message every day and the coach he once couldn’t stand is now considered the best coach in football.

Saquon Barkley on Nick Sirianni:

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“He doesn’t get nearly enough respect,” Barkley said.
“Look around the league — who’s been better over the last five years?”

That’s not just a throwaway compliment either. Barkley went out of his way to say Sirianni doesn’t get nearly enough respect and challenged anyone to find a coach who’s been better over the last five years. And the uncomfortable truth for the rest of the league is that he’s not wrong.

Sirianni has never missed the playoffs. He’s been to multiple Super Bowls. He’s won one. He owns one of the best winning percentages in NFL history. Yet every year when Coach of the Year conversations pop up, he’s barely mentioned. It’s like he exists in this weird blind spot where success is acknowledged but never fully credited.

Fine. Let it stay that way.

If the Eagles have learned anything over the last few years, it’s that disrespect fuels them. Doubt the quarterback. Downplay the coach. Ignore the résumé. All it does is sharpen the edge.

Saquon Barkley hating Nick Sirianni once upon a time makes the full-circle moment even better. Because now he’s not just bought in. He’s defending him. And as the playoffs approach and another Super Bowl run comes into view, that kind of belief inside the locker room matters a hell of a lot more than any award voters ever will.

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