PHILADELPHIA \u2014 Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apologized Monday for gesturing and jawing at fans in the final moments of a win during which restless fans booed a listless performance and \u201cFire Nick!\u201d chants permeated pockets at Lincoln Financial Field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sirianni \u2014 a habitual trash-talker \u2014 put a finger to his right ear and chirped at fans in the first rows at the Linc on Sunday. Flanked by his three young children, Sirianni defend his antics<\/a> following a narrow win over Cleveland<\/a>, saying he was simply \u201cexcited\u201d to get a victory. The fourth-year coach added the Eagles \u201cdon\u2019t necessarily like it\u201d when fans boo at home games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sirianni struck a conciliatory tone for his behavior a day later after his boorish behavior was ripped by fans and media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was trying to bring energy yesterday. Energy, enthusiasm,\u201d Sirianni said Monday. \u201cI\u2019m sorry and disappointed at how my energy was directed at the end of the game. My energy should be all in on coaching, motivating and celebrating with our guys. I have to have better wisdom and discernment of when to use that energy and that wasn\u2019t the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sirianni said players had urged him over the bye week to bring the type of passion he flashed on the sideline when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in the 2022 season and started 10-1 last year. Jalen Hurts and Brandon Graham were among the veterans who publicly supported Sirianni after the Eagles (3-2) held on to beat lowly Cleveland 20-16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sirianni said as of late Monday afternoon he not yet met with team owner Jeffrey Lurie. Sirianni attributed his turnaround in tone to a period of reflection and equated the apology in football terms, saying it was no different from when a coach wished he could have a do-over on a bad play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou want to be passionate and have energy just like I did in there today with the guys when we watched film together,\u201d Sirianni said. \u201cIt\u2019s having that discernment of when to do that. I wish there was a playbook for stuff like that. It would make the job a little bit easier to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps his most infamous fan interaction came last season when he barked at Chiefs fans after the Eagles won a Super Bowl rematch. The pressure was ratcheted up on Sirianni after the Eagles lost six of seven games (including playoffs) down the stretch, which left his job status in doubt over the summer. He earned a reprieve from Lurie \u2014 only to find himself swirling in controversy again for failing to keep his emotions in check against Eagles fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have the best fans in the world. There\u2019s no place like this,\u201d Sirianni said. \u201cThey show up and show out no matter where we are. Brazil, Arizona, it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n