DEC 7 SHAQ CITES SIRIANNI AS DIFFERENCE OVER COWBOYS It wasn’t exactly Brotherly Love but a certain sense of familiarity drew Shaquille Leonard to Lincoln Financial Field.

Leonard, a newly-minted Philadelphia Eagle, spoke about his decision to don green as his new employers prepare to do battle with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night (7:20 p.m. CT, NBC). As the long-time rivals sought a defensive difference in the homestretch of a season that has each on top of the NFC East, each tried to woo Leonard. According to the four-time All-Pro, a familiar face in the head coaching spot in the form of Nick Sirrianni ultimately provided the difference.

“Nick and I were together in Indy. Nick is a great coach, great competitor,” Leonard declared, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. “I wanted to go somewhere that fit me, to a coach who knew who I was as a person and as a player.”

Leonard spent his first three NFL seasons (2018-20) working against Sirianni’s offensive sets when the two shared time with the Indianapolis Colts. Under Sirianni’s watch as offensive coordinator, the Colts appeared among the top 10 offenses and reached the playoffs twice in three years. That success drew the Eagles attention and they hired Sirianni to succeed Doug Pederson in 2021.

Going up against Leonard in practice appeared to leave a lasting impact on Sirianni, who has amassed a 33-13 record over two-plus seasons in Philadelphia, which has hosted his first head coaching job of any kind.

“He’s got a knack for the football,” Sirianni said in Tolentino’s report. “That isn’t just my vision of watching him play recently, but also the practice reps I have against him. So, him in pass coverage, his length and his instinct is really outstanding‚ and he’s got a nose for the ball.”