Vengeful Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni rubs Indianapolis Colts’ nose in a heartbreaking loss — in honor of his buddy

For a week, the Indianapolis Colts’ world had been crowing about the firing of head coach Frank Reich and the hiring of Jeff Saturday, a former Colts lineman with zero NFL coaching experience — how Saturday would “shock people,” how he would change the culture and fire up the fans with “a bolt of charm and energy.”

On the CBS pregame show minutes before kickoff on Sunday, analyst Phil Simms and the rest of the panel insisted the Colts would play tougher for Saturday. (What was understood: They would play tougher for Saturday than they had for Reich.)

Meanwhile, they’re still trying to understand Colts owner Jim Irsay’s tweet after last week’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Saturday’s debut: “All you critics … you criticize all of us in the NFL for losing … When we make moves to Win … you act so righteous! “Who You Crappin.’” Just Win, Baby!!”

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But here’s one translation: I told you dumping Reich was the right thing to do.

All that dancing on Reich’s coaching grave apparently ticked off Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. Really ticked him off.

Sirianni counts Reich among the coaching mentors who have had the biggest impact on his career. Before getting the Eagles’ head coaching job, Sirianni learned from Reich in Indianapolis, where Sirianni was the offensive coordinator from 2018-20. So, all of that happy talk by the (at the time) unbeaten Saturday Colts had Sirianni steaming.

And when the Eagles rallied to beat the Colts, 17-16, on Sunday, Sirianni gave Irsay a verbal Gatorade bath, only with piss and vinegar.

“I’m emotional because I love Frank Reich. I really do,” Sirianni said. “He’s one of the best damn football coaches I’ve ever been around. I was hoping that [he] and I would be able to coach against each other in this stadium. He’s one of my biggest mentors. … Frank is such a good football coach.

“Yeah, you don’t want to know what I think about whether he should be here or not, but you can probably imagine what I really think. And I love him to death, so I got a little emotional about that.”

This was, for all intents and purposes, a middle finger at Irsay. Before Sirianni’s postgame press conference was over, he made a point of explaining just how glad he was to stick it to the organization — even though it was a homecoming of sorts for him.

“I spent a lot of time here,” Sirianni said. “One of my kids was born here. It was sweet to come here, especially with what happened in this organization the past couple of weeks, and get the win.”

He paused, the added, “The. Win.”

He paused and then stopped with each word to emphasize it: “To. Leave. Indianapolis. With. The. Win.”

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts presented Sirianni with a game ball after pulling off the comeback, nearly single-handedly.

“As [Sirianni] walked off the field, I heard he got a little bit emotional,” Hurts said. “I guess I didn’t help him when I tossed him the ball. Coach doesn’t get enough credit for what he does and what he’s meant for us. He does a great job. I’m happy he got to get this win. We’re always in each other’s ear in terms of mentality, and we want this team to have the approach we want to have. He’ll enjoy it, I’m going to enjoy it, and we’re going to move on to get ready for Sunday night.”

Sirianni said he shook hands and chatted with several of his former Colts players after the game and heard rumors — presumably about Reich being scapegoated — but didn’t want to repeat them.

Of course, Sirianni hasn’t been the only one to rip Saturday’s hiring, seen by many as more white privilege for a guy who didn’t pay any coaching dues. Irsay insisted Saturday’s lack of coaching experience was a positive on his resume, because he wouldn’t be saddled with the same ol’ NFL coaching beliefs.

“When you hire your drinking buddy to be the head coach of an NFL football team, it is one of the most disrespectful things I have ever seen in my entire life to the commitment, the lifestyle and the experience that it takes to be an NFL coach,” Joe Thomas, a 10-time Pro Bowler, said on “Good Morning Football.” He added that being an NFL head coach isn’t “just something you can show up for. … And then to defend the decision by saying, ‘I’m happy he doesn’t have experience?’”

The Eagles, who never led in Sunday’s game until Hurts’ 7-yard TD run on a wide-open quarterback draw with 1:20 remaining to rebound from a Monday night loss to the Washington Commanders. Hurts was 18-of-25 for 190 yards and a touchdown, and he rushed 16 times for 86 yards and the game-winning TD to boost the Eagles to 9-1 and keep them atop the NFC and, of course, the division.

The Eagles won their seventh straight road game, but at least on Sunday night, none was sweeter for Sirianni than this one.

“That was a great win,” he said. “It wasn’t the way you would draw it up, but in this league, it rarely is. It’s tough sledding. And it was just a great win.”

Made even greater because he stuck it to his buddy’s replacement and ex-boss.

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