Michael Strahan ‘doesn’t understand’ Nick Sirianni with live Fox rant over behaviour during sideline bust up

Michael Strahan has called out Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.

During the NFL Wild Card clash between the Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, the broadcast picked up a heated exchange between Sirianni and superstar wide receiver A.J. Brown.

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Tempers flared during the second quarter when Sirianni marched down the sideline to engage in a discussion with the 28-year-old, appearing to yell at him for being slow to get off the field after a third-down incompletion.

Philadelphia led the Niners 13-10 at halftime, and when FOX Sports’ studio crew discussed this particular moment of the game, former NFL star Strahan didn’t hold back on the Eagles head coach’s behavior.

“They don’t look like they’re having as much fun as they should. I don’t understand why Sirianni’s running down there and yelling at one of his star players, A.J. Brown,” Strahan said on the halftime show.

“A.J. Brown wanted to get involved in the game, I’m pretty sure. Hadn’t seen the ball. They took two big shots with him and he didn’t catch either one.

“Maybe he said ‘give me a shot’ and the coach said, ‘okay you had your chance, you better catch the ball next time.’

“But I don’t understand why you do that in the middle of a game like this, because I don’t think that brings out the best in your player. I think it takes away from your player. I think it takes away the energy from your team…

“In my opinion, as a player, I wouldn’t have taken it very well from my coach on the sideline.”

After the game, Sirianni addressed the incident that occurred on the sideline.

“I was trying to get him off the field, because we were about to punt, and that was really it,” Sirianni said.

“I love A.J. I think he knows how I feel about him. I have a special relationship with him. We’ve probably went through every emotion that you can possibly have together.

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“We’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together, we’ve yelled at each other. You know, we’re both emotional.

“I was trying to get him off the field, and that happens in this game. That happens in this game, but, I love him.”

Frustrations ran high all season long

Whilst Sirianni played the exchange down, this was just the latest instalment in a season of frustration for Brown.

After admitting that his relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts had soured somewhat after their Super Bowl LX win, the three-time Pro Bowler’s resentment only grew as the 2025 regular season progressed.

With offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo instilling a run-heavy game tailored to Hurts and superstar running back Saquon Barkley, Brown grew frustrated with having a bit-part role in the offensive scheme.

Having seen his name floated around in trade rumors ahead of the deadline along with that of fellow receiver DeVonta Smith, Brown was also accused of ‘giving up’ on a play in the Eagles’ 21-17 defeat to the Denver Broncos back in Week 5.

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With Brown recording just three catches for 25 yards and two drops in the Eagles’ defeat on Sunday, he refused to speak to the media after the game.

This has led some to speculate that this could have been his final game in the Kelly Green, with trade rumors already hotting up, linking the receiver to the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots.

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