By Amy Tennery and Maria Alejandra Cardona
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Philadelphia is known as the “City of Brotherly Love” and nowhere is that more evident than the Eagles’ locker room, where players say they developed a pitch-perfect chemistry on the road to the Super Bowl.
The men in green want to thwart the Kansas City Chiefs’ attempt at an unprecedented “three-peat” in New Orleans on Sunday and will rely on their uncommonly tight-knit culture in the Super Bowl pressure cooker.
“Coach Nick (Sirianni), from the day I got here was like ‘Our biggest thing is connect’ – connecting in the locker room,” said linebacker Zack Baun, who signed with the Eagles on a one-year contract ahead of the 2024 season.
“There’s couches in the locker room, there’s guys playing ping pong all the time, guys throwing darts and playing arcade games and doing all these different things to connect.
“This team is very well connected and I think it shows up in our play on the field.”
Sirianni has never shied away from showing emotion, and stood on the sidelines of Super Bowl 57 two years ago nearly weeping during the singing of the “Star-Spangled Banner”, before the Eagles lost to the Chiefs 38-35.
Back for a rematch, the 43-year-old told reporters on Tuesday that being his authentic self helped build trust with the players on and off the field.
“I’m in here a heck of a lot more than I’m at home. And so at some point, if I’m not being true to myself while still growing, then they’re going to know, you know, that I’m being a fraud,” he said.
“There’s a time to show your emotion and there’s a time not to show your emotion. I think I’ve gotten better at that as the years have went on.”
Linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. has plenty of familiar faces in the locker room, playing alongside four of his fellow Georgia Bulldogs on the Philadelphia defense, but he said the common ground transcends school allegiances.
“It’s the chemistry between all the guys, all 11 of us,” he said.
“I know Georgia we’re a small piece to that part, and yes we know each other and we help but man it’s the whole defense, everyone being themselves.”
(Editing by Toby Davis)
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