“See this guy?” Nick Sirianni grinned, arm-locking his right-hand man Kevin Patullo after a mid-season Eagles win. “This is a star!” Cut to New Orleans, where Saints head coach Kellen Moore—fresh off poaching Eagles QB coach Doug Nussmeier—just swiped another Philly gem. If this NFL rivalry were a rom-com, we’d be at the part where the ex steals your favorite hoodie and your gym buddy. The Saints, coming off a 5–12 trainwreck of a season (dead last in defense with opponents averaging 394.9 yds per game), are betting big on Moore’s Moneyball makeover to turn things around.

Enter Ted Rath, the Eagles’ former Director of Sports Performance, the human cheat code behind Philly’s Super Bowl LIX win. Rath, known as Sean McVay’s OG “get-back coach” (Rams fans still remember him yanking McVay off the sideline like a toddler near a cookie jar), spent four years transforming the Eagles’ injury reports into highlight reels. His résumé reads like a Marvel origin story—stints with the Lions (2009–15), Dolphins (2016), Rams (2017–19) and, most recently, the Eagles (2020–23) have imbued him with a knack for injecting grit into squads. Now he’s NOLA-bound, reuniting with Moore to turn the Saints’ “bend-and-snap” defense into something that doesn’t bend.

Rath’s philosophy is as direct as it is tough. “Choosing to do DIFFICULT things daily is one of the best HABITS to develop grit,” he tweeted last year, then broke it down with his holy trinity: “WORSHIP, WORKOUT, and WRITE.” Translation: New Orleans’ new secret sauce involves less gumbo and more grind. And if you’re a gifted underachiever? He makes it clear: “Don’t waste your gift.” These words, split up like a perfectly executed two-part play, serve as the rallying cry for a Saints team desperate to rewrite a season of misfires.

The 2024 season for New Orleans was less Remember the Titans and more Groundhog Day—same defensive meltdowns, week in and week out. With QB Derek Carr throwing for 2,145 yards, 15 TDs, and 5 INTs in 10 games before an oblique injury, and Alvin Kamara slogging through with 950 rush yds, 6 TDs plus 543 receiving yds and 2 scores, the offense showed sparks but couldn’t mask the overall chaos. Now, with 36-year-old Moore—who helped Jalen Hurts snag a ring—at the helm Saints fans are hoping that raiding Philly’s staff like Thanos collecting Infinity Stones will finally flip the script.

Can Rath and Moore resurrect the Saints? If his track record holds, NOLA’s training camp might swap out endless ice baths for a dose of 300-style “THIS IS SPARTA!” energy. And as for Philly? Let’s just say Nick Sirianni’s side-eye could power the Liberty Bell. The stakes are personal now, as every play calls back to a rivalry that dates to 1967—a contest that has grown from friendly competition into a clash of cultures and wits.

Nick Sirianni’s Redemption Arc: From Hot Seat to Hot Streak

Rewind to 2023: Sirianni was clinging to his job like Tom Cruise to a helicopter skid. His coordinators flopped, his defense imploded, and fans roasted him harder than a cheesesteak at Pat’s. Fast-forward to 2025: The guy now sports a fresh Super Bowl ring, a re-upped contract, and the swagger of Wolf of Wall Street’s Jordan Belfort. “I care less about your potential,” Rath once said, and Sirianni is living by that mantra as he reclaims control of his team.

After Moore’s departure, Sirianni promoted Kevin Patullo—his literal twin separated at birth—to offensive coordinator. “Tall, former WRs, faux beards… it’s like Parent Trap but with playbooks,” joked one Eagles staffer, summing up the oddball similarities. Patullo’s rise mirrors Sirianni’s own underdog journey: unheralded, relentless, and fueled by endless cups of Wawa coffee. But this isn’t just about X’s and O’s—it’s about control. Last year, owner Jeffrey Lurie handed Moore and DC Vic Fangio the keys; now, Sirianni’s whispering, almost Godfather-style, “The offense is mine again.”

His early picks, including Jonathan Gannon and Shane Steichen, and the strategic hire of Florida’s Brian Johnson as Hurts’ position coach, all built the foundation for his resurgence. Think of it as a “Rocky” montage, where every setback only fuels the next triumphant round.

The Eagles’ 2024 title run wasn’t picture-perfect—ranking 29th in passing, for instance—but it still produced magic moments. Saquon Barkley went full Forrest Gump with his “Run, Saquon, RUN!” moments, and with Patullo calling plays, expect more of that RPO wizardry and less “Why’s Hurts throwing into triple coverage?!” drama.

The most productive single-season rusher ever—the passing game ranked a lackluster 29th among 32 teams. Now, with a $7M/yr contract (and eyes on an extension), Nick Sirianni’s reasserting his control like a true gridiron general—dramatic as a twist in “West Side Story.” New passing-game coordinator Parks Frazier, a Colts-era disciple of Sirianni, adds another layer of slick, Ocean’s 11 vibes to the mix. If Sirianni ever starts rocking shades indoors, we’ll know the secret’s out.

The Eagles-Saints rivalry may not have the Brady-Manning history, but it sure has its own juice. Philly leads the all-time series 20–16, yet NOLA boasts a 3–1 edge in the playoffs—a fact that still stings like a low blow. Recall the 1992 Wild Card face plant when the Eagles forgot defense existed for three whole quarters or last September’s 15–12 slugfest decided by Reed Blankenship’s clutch pick. Now, with Moore scheming against his old squad, the personal stakes have never been higher. As Game of Thrones warned, ‘When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die,’ and Sirianni is playing 4D chess.

So, what’s next? If Rath transforms the Saints into a health nut’s paradise and Sirianni’s Eagles keep soaring, this rivalry could rival Top Gun: Maverick—high-flying, ego-driven, and guaranteed to spark a merchandising frenzy. Just don’t tell Sirianni it’s only preseason. “This guy?” he’ll smirk, nodding at Patullo. “Star.” And with that, the NFC East is left shuddering in anticipation.