A Western New York native is headed to the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Siriani, a native of Jamestown, helped lead his team to a 31-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in the NFC championship game.
“We get to do it because we did it better than anyone in the NFC this year,” Sirianni said of his team’s Super Bowl berth.
Sirianni was named the Eagles head coach in Jan. 2021.
He played football at Southwestern High School in West Ellicott. After high school, Sirianni went on to a successful playing career at the University of Mount Union in Ohio, where he also later coached, before another coaching stint at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Sirianni began his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009 as quality control then quarterback and wide receiver coach before being part of the staff fired and replaced under current Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. He again served in the same roles with the then-San Diego Chargers, before becoming the offensive coordinator under former Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich and the Indianapolis Colts.
“You see this city and the passion they have for this team. We’re so appreciative of these fans,” Sirianni said after Sunday’s game. “Look at this place. There’s no place like this in the NFL. It’s a hard-working city, it’s a blue-collar city. We think that’s the type of team we have.”
Also representing Western New York in the Super Bowl on the Eagles side will be punter Brett Kern of Grand Island High School, and Philadelphia’s senior personnel director Dave Caldwell, who attended St. Francis High School. Eagles tight end Tyree Jackson, a former quarterback at the University of Buffalo and briefly for the Bills, is on injured reserve.
For Kansas City, tight end Jody Fortson is a Buffalo native who attended South Park High School and Erie Community College.
The Assoicated Press contributed to this report.