Leader Of Men

PHILADELPHIA — Individual awards aren’t a priority for Nick Sirianni as he prepares Philadelphia for the NFC Championship Game on Sunday against San Francisco.

Still, the Eagles coach and Jamestown native is reaping the benefits of a special season so far.

According to Mark Wolpert, director of the Maxwell Football Club, Sirianni has been chosen as the winner of the 34th Greasy Neale Professional Coach of the Year Award.

Sirianni and Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts — the recipient of the 64th Bert Bell Professional Player of the Year Award — will be honored March 9 at the 86th Maxwell Football Club National Awards Gala, which will be held at the Mohegan Pennsylvania Resort.

In his second season as head coach, Sirianni has led the Eagles to a 15-3 record and a berth in the NFC Championship Game. Along the way, the Eagles won the NFC East championship and shattered numerous team records, including most wins in a regular season (14); most points scored in a season (447); and most sacks in a season (70).

Sirianni joins former Eagles coaches Ray Rhodes (1995), Andy Reid (2000, 2002, 2010), Chip Kelly (2013) and Doug Pederson (2017) as winners of the Greasy Neale Coach of the Year Award.

Neale was a football coach from 1915 through 1950 at both the college and pro ranks. Among his stops were at Washington & Jefferson College (1921-22) and with the Philadelphia Eagles (1941-1950). Of note, Sirianni’s brother, Mike, is the current coach at W&J.