The Philadelphia Eagles have locked in their future—at least on the sidelines. Head coach Nick Sirianni has officially been extended, signaling the franchise’s full confidence in his leadership after a string of successful seasons, including a Super Bowl appearance and back-to-back playoff berths. With Sirianni at the helm, the Eagles have emerged as one of the NFL’s most consistent contenders in the NFC. But with every dominant run comes a target on your back.
The real question now: Who’s next in line to knock Philly off the throne?
The NFC East Gauntlet
Let’s start in the division. The NFC East hasn’t seen a repeat champion since 2004, a stat that defies logic yet somehow remains true. The Eagles won the division in 2022 and looked poised to repeat until a late-season collapse in 2023 allowed the Dallas Cowboys to sneak in.
The Cowboys, with Mike McCarthy under increasing pressure and Dak Prescott’s looming contract situation, are perhaps the most obvious contenders. They boast a top-5 defense led by Micah Parsons and enough offensive firepower to beat anyone on any given Sunday. The question is whether they can do it in January—something they’ve failed to prove for nearly three decades.
Meanwhile, the New York Giants remain in transition. Brian Daboll is trying to re-capture the magic of his 2022 Coach of the Year campaign, but quarterback questions and roster holes make them a longer shot. The Commanders, now under new ownership and with a fresh coaching staff led by Dan Quinn, are trending in the right direction—but dethroning Philly feels a step too far in 2025.
NFC Contenders Looming
Outside of the division, the NFC is filled with potential spoilers.
At the top of the list: the San Francisco 49ers. If any team matches up pound-for-pound with the Eagles, it’s Kyle Shanahan’s squad. With Brock Purdy growing more confident, Christian McCaffrey anchoring the backfield, and a defense that continues to dominate, San Francisco is the most well-rounded threat to Philadelphia. Their physical, aggressive style mirrors Philly’s own identity. Their 2023 NFC Championship showdown proved just how narrow the margin is between the two teams.
The Detroit Lions are another rising power. Dan Campbell’s culture shift is complete, and Jared Goff has found new life under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. If their young defense continues to mature and Aidan Hutchinson evolves into a game-wrecker, the Lions could very well leap into the Super Bowl conversation.
Don’t sleep on the Green Bay Packers, either. Jordan Love’s breakout in late 2023 turned heads across the league. With a talented group of young receivers and a defense built for cold-weather playoff football, Green Bay is once again a team to fear.
AFC Powerhouses as the Bigger Threat?
Ironically, the Eagles’ biggest challenge might not come from the NFC at all. If Sirianni’s squad makes another Super Bowl run, they’ll likely face one of the AFC’s elite.
The Kansas City Chiefs—still led by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid—remain the NFL’s gold standard. Beating them on the big stage is a mountain no NFC team has climbed in recent memory. The Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and a reloaded Houston Texans with C.J. Stroud at the controls all pose serious threats in an interconference showdown.
What This Means for Sirianni
The extension of Nick Sirianni is a sign that the Eagles believe their championship window remains wide open. His leadership, paired with GM Howie Roseman’s roster-building savvy, creates a foundation few franchises can match. But in today’s NFL, success is fleeting. The margin between elite and average shrinks each year, especially with injuries, free agency, and the ever-unpredictable quarterback carousel.
Whether it’s a divisional rival like the Cowboys, a conference nemesis like the 49ers, or a Super Bowl juggernaut like the Chiefs—someone is always coming for the crown.
For now, the Eagles remain on top. But staying there? That’s Sirianni’s next great challenge.
