The Philadelphia Eagles, who captured the Vince Lombardi Trophy less than two years ago with a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, have plummeted to a 2-5 record this season and face their first losing campaign under head coach Nick Sirianni. The team's wild-card exit last season marked the beginning of a steep decline that has prompted widespread scrutiny of the organization's decision-making.
General manager Howie Roseman's roster construction
Roseman, a future Hall of Fame executive who built two championship rosters and three NFC championship teams, faces criticism for recent personnel decisions. The Eagles lacked a succession plan for right tackle Lane Johnson, failed to reduce running back Saquon Barkley's workload with a complementary back, and hired inexperienced offensive coordinators. Roseman's attempt to replace star receiver A.J. Brown's production through a "Moneyball" approach using multiple players, including first-round pick Makai Lemon, has not succeeded. Brown's 2022 arrival yielded a Super Bowl win but ended in what the article describes as a "nasty divorce," and his subsequent trade to New England left a significant offensive void.
Head coach Nick Sirianni's coordinator choices
Sirianni has maintained locker room cohesion despite the losing record, but his offensive coordinator hires have drawn criticism. After Kellen Moore departed for the New Orleans Saints, Sirianni promoted Kevin Patullo, who had never served as an NFL offensive coordinator. The offense regressed under Patullo, who remained play-caller despite early struggles. Rather than hire an experienced replacement, Sirianni hired Sean Mannion, another first-time NFL offensive coordinator. The offense has improved marginally but remains well below championship level.
Injury crisis
The Eagles have endured an unusually high number of injuries, including Johnson's unexpected retirement and quarterback Jalen Hurts' health issues that have sidelined him for significant periods. Barkley missed time with a hamstring injury and showed signs of slowing after his 2,000-yard season in 2024. Historical data suggests most running backs who reach that milestone experience shortened primes due to wear and tear, with only Derrick Henry and Adrian Peterson as notable exceptions. Questions persist about whether Barkley's heavy workload contributed to his injury.
Salary cap constraints from past success
The NFL's parity-driven structure has hampered Philadelphia's ability to retain talent. Following their Super Bowl victory, the Eagles lost key defenders Josh Sweat and Milton Williams, along with significant offensive line depth that had paved the way for Barkley's historic season and Hurts' MVP-caliber performance. While the team retained stars DeVonta Smith and Zack Baun, those contracts limited free agency flexibility.
A.J. Brown's departure impact
Brown's trade to the New England Patriots continues to reverberate through the offense. His production from 2022-24 was integral to the championship run, but his exit — preceded by cryptic behavior during the 2024 season — left a void that Lemon and other receivers have been unable to fill. Even during the team's 2-0 start with a healthy Hurts, offensive underperformance was evident.
