Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reportedly engaged in a heated confrontation with Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz following Sunday's 36-33 loss to the Commanders at Northwest Stadium.
According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the incident unfolded as the teams were shaking hands post-game. Ertz, who played for the Eagles from 2013 to 2021, initially extended his hand for a shake but switched to a high-five upon noticing Sirianni's frustration.
Sources told McLane that Sirianni then made a remark about Ertz's performance, specifically mentioning his single catch in the game.
The exchange escalated, requiring the intervention of Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro, who escorted Sirianni away from the situation toward the tunnel.
In post-game comments, Sirianni downplayed the incident, stating to reporters that he and Ertz "said 'congrats' to each other." Conversely, Ertz described the exchange as one where "we exchanged holiday pleasantries and kept it moving."
McLane reported that Sirianni later apologized to Ertz during a Zoom call, suggesting some regret over the nature of the confrontation.
The tension could stem from their shared history; Sirianni took over as head coach of the Eagles in 2021, the same year Ertz was traded to the Arizona Cardinals amid reported offseason discord, despite Ertz's expressed desire to remain with the Eagles.
This season with Washington, Ertz has recorded 55 receptions for 538 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Sirianni, known for his emotional displays, has had previous confrontations, including one with Eagles fans earlier in the season, highlighting a pattern of intense reactions in challenging moments. Might be time to calm down a little, dude.
