Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apologized to Washington Commander tight end Zach Ertz for comments that led to an on-court altercation between the two after their Week 16 game.
Sirianni reportedly took issue with how enthusiastically Ertz high-fived him after Washington’s 36–33 win, noting how little impact the tight end had in the game. Ertz caught one pass (on two targets) for 12 yards in the win. Upon hearing the comment, Ertz confronted Sirianni and the two had to be separated by Eagles head of security Dom DiSandro.
(You may remember DiSandro because he got into a sideline fight with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw during a game last season. The NFL banned DiSandro from the Eagles’ sideline for the next game.)
The coach later called his former player (Ertz was with the Eagles from 2013 to 2021 and played his final season under Sirianni) and apologized, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. When asked what was said, Sirianni kept the comments to himself.
“I keep all my conversations with men private,” Sirianni told reporters Thursday via ESPN. “I have a lot of respect for Zach. Great football player, great person to be around. I really have a lot of respect for Zach and all the good things he’s done and my relationship with him.”
Sirianni was clearly upset about losing a close game against Washington, a game that likely cost them the chance to earn the top seed in the NFC and ended a ten-game winning streak. However, his antagonistic behavior and calmness on the sidelines and after matches have previously been criticized.
The coach may also have been irritated by the Eagles’ composure during the game, which saw the team commit 10 penalties and get defenseman C.J. Gardner-Johnson ejected before taking out the Commanders fans at Northwest Stadium.
Philadelphia hosts the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET, while Washington plays the Atlanta Falcons at 8:20 PM ET. If the current standings hold, the Eagles and Commanders would face each other in the opening round of the playoffs.
