The Philadelphia Eagles dropped their fifth straight game Monday night, blowing a 21-20 lead and surrendering 18 unanswered points in a 38-21 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys. The skid has reopened old wounds in the organization, and this time the criticism is coming from someone who knows the locker room well: Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles.
Foles used his podcast to declare flatly that there is dysfunction in Philadelphia, pointing to what he described as a culture problem rather than a scheme issue. As reported by NJ.com, Foles said, “There is dysfunction in Philly,” and argued that “the number one thing isn’t scheme, a fancy coordinator, it’s culture.” He said the Eagles had sustained a good culture for much of the past couple of decades, but that something was changing.
Foles pinned the shift on a specific moment: the departure of longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland after last season. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Foles traced the team's cultural decline to “starting when the Eagles and Jeff Stoutland parted ways after last season,” and said the Eagles lack the kind of veteran coaching presence in 2026 that bolstered the roster back in 2017.
Foles Zeroes In On Offensive Line Body Language
Foles also expressed concern about the body language he saw from Eagles players during the loss to Dallas, specifically criticizing the offensive line for failing to pick up teammates who were knocked down during the game. He contrasted that with how things ran under Stoutland, saying the former coach's culture wouldn't have allowed it. “That culture with Jeff, that would never fly,” Foles said, adding that the offensive line used to promptly help teammates up after they were hit.
The criticism of Stoutland's exit carried real weight given his track record. Stoutland left the Eagles after 13 seasons, having joined the staff in 2013 and served under three head coaches — Chip Kelly, Doug Pederson and Sirianni — according to NFL.com. During his tenure, the Eagles earned nine playoff berths, advanced to three Super Bowls and won the franchise's only two Lombardi Trophies, per the same report, which also credited Stoutland with coaching seven players to a combined 27 Pro Bowls.
Foles said he was upset the team pushed Stoutland out during the offseason, calling him a great coach who didn't get the respect he deserved. “He is a great coach. For him not to get the respect that he deserves, that frustrates me,” Foles said, a quote relayed by NJ.com. He said he feared the Eagles would fall apart after parting ways with a coach of that caliber.
Stoutland's Legacy In Philadelphia
The scope of what Stoutland built in Philadelphia helps explain why his departure still resonates. He helped turn Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce into Hall-of-Fame-caliber players while developing former rugby player Jordan Mailata into an All-Pro left tackle, NJ.com reported in February. The Eagles made three Super Bowls since the 2017-18 season and won two of them during that span, the outlet noted at the time of Stoutland's exit.
Radio voices in Philadelphia have been wrestling with similar questions. The 94 WIP Morning Show, as covered on Audacy, has said there is a culture issue in Philadelphia and debated whether coaches or players deserve more of the blame. A separate Audacy segment pointed to injuries as an ongoing issue compounding the team's struggles.
Sirianni Pushes Back On The Narrative
Sirianni responded to Foles's criticism this week, and he wasn't shy about dismissing it. He said the Eagles need to stay locked in within their own organization rather than getting wrapped up in outside reports. “Our job is to stay locked in within our organization,” Sirianni said, according to NJ.com's account of his remarks.
The head coach said he could only speak to what he sees firsthand. “I can only go off what my relationship is with the players and what goes on inside the building,” Sirianni said. He also acknowledged that a five-game losing streak naturally invites scrutiny, telling reporters, “I think it’s natural to look for answers like that when you do drop five in a row.”
Sirianni struck a more measured tone when discussing the locker room itself. The Inquirer quoted him saying the Eagles have plenty to fix but that he believes the roster still cares about getting better. “We got a lot to fix, but I think we’ve got guys that care,” Sirianni said. With the losing streak now at five games and no signs of the debate cooling off, the Eagles head into their next outing with both their record and their culture under a national microscope.
