Zach Berman

Available TODAY... Leap Year: The Philadelphia Eagles' Ascent to Super Bowl Champions ...Relive the Super Bowl season, go behind the scenes of the unforgettable moments, and learn about the characters who helped make 2024 the Eagles' Leap Year. a.co/d/8ArRxLo

What actually happens inside an NFL coaching booth on game day? In Episode 3 of the Paganetti & Underhill Show, I share stories from my years working in the booth, explain how analytics is used in real time, and talk a little about the Philly Special. Episode 3 is now live on YouTube. Watch below 👇

Nick Sirianni on the WRs: "I think that I'm really excited about this receiver room. DeVonta Smith is just, he's a special player that can continue to get even more targets...He's so capable of doing even more, and he's phenomenal, he is such a good football player. "Then 'Tay Wicks has this great ability — gosh, there are so many similarities, and again, this is going to be a high praise statement and and I'm not saying he's this guy, but gosh, he reminds me of Keenan Allen ...with the way they are off the line of scrimmage, the way they are at the top of the route, with the way they are with the ball in their hands, he just really reminds me of him in that aspect. "Makai, obviously, we drafted him for a reason, where we drafted him. He has this ability to catch the football, and in tough situations. "I've liked Marquis Brown and Elijah Moore for a long time. I've really always admired their game of how they played, and it's just been nice to see them. They have these really special traits. To have our third, fourth receiver be these guys. I'm really excited about this room." ...He also likes the depth. Darius Cooper and Johnny Wilson give the dirty work profile that Sirianni craves. Quez Watkins and Danny Gray are players who've been around on the practice squad.

It’s “breakout predictions” season. Here’s my list of assistant coaches who could break out this NFL season, based on conversations with team and league sources, my own film study and observations and a little input from some of our writers: nytimes.com/athletic/74594…

Nick Sirianni on expectations: "“You come off a ’22 season and we did what we did, and I think that that standard has been what’s been expected — not only from the outside, I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to play to a standard. It’s going to push us to become better, because they’re so high. …We all struggle. We all wrestled with that, like, ‘Man, that’s maybe not fair that the expectation is that high,’ or, ‘Hey, man, we’re going to become as good as we possibly can, because the expectation is so high.’”

Nick Sirianni on whether there should be more appreciation for the past 5 years: "I can’t control what anybody thinks or feels … and that’s OK. If even a second of my time is being worried about, ‘Hey, I wish they appreciated this more,’ well, then I just lost a little bit of time that I could be doing something else that really matters.” “I think there’s this growth in finding yourself through the journey that you’ve gone through to get to a point where, like, ‘Yeah, should we be appreciated more?’ Who gives a … We’ve done a good job, and we want to continue to do a good job.”

Which NFL players have the most at stake entering 2026? On this list (featuring one player per team), you’ll find star-crossed quarterbacks, wide receivers juggling off-field issues and older edge rushers and younger offensive tackles alike at career crossroads. Read for free: nyti.ms/3T83Mf3

Announcement time: Today I begin my new role on @TheAthletic enterprise team. After 9 years covering the Seahawks — and writing two books on ‘em — I’m moving on to national features & enterprise stories. Beat writing was dope. Time for a new challenge. Much luv to those who been around from day 1, and every day since. Even more luv to those sticking around for the next chapter.

The ChatGPT example was an anecdote to humanize Sirianni in keeping fresh for Year 6. It also showed Sirianni that the best stories aren't the AI answers —  it's what the Eagles created. “We’ve created stories, things that people are looking up on ChatGP — fill me in on the letters,” Sirianni said. “What keeps it more fresh than what we’ve done?” Read the full story here: nytimes.com/athletic/74519…

This is a cool article. Sirianni basically searched for some motivating stories in sports and then realized there’s one brewing right in his own building.

Nick Sirianni explored ChatGPT this offseason in keeping the message fresh entering Year 6. He also knows the Eagles could create their own answers. Free to read on @TheAthletic: Taking Sirianni's temperature on change, expectations, and appreciation: nytimes.com/athletic/74519…

Looking forward to talking football with Hall of Famer Ray Didinger and the Athletic’s @ZBerm at my book launch for “Just Give Me A Chance To Fail” on Tuesday, July 28. Get your ticket now (price includes a copy of the book and a beer). Click on the link below. bnphillypauldomowitch.eventbrite.com

Part 2 of reviewing my 25-step offseason blueprint — how were Howie Roseman's moves different, where were they comparable, and what did the Eagles address this offseason: nytimes.com/athletic/74503…

In March, I presented a 25-step blueprint for how Howie Roseman could approach the Eagles' offseason. How did it compare to what Roseman did? Part 1 of the analysis on @TheAthleticNFL: nytimes.com/athletic/74474…

From last night, from me and @TylerKepner: On the boos and the bombs that made this a HR Derby unlike any we'd ever seen (or heard) Unlocked and free for all to read nytimes.com/athletic/74440…

A very important story about the sandwich many All-Stars eat whenever they’re playing at Citizens Bank Park. “When you come to Philly, you forget about nutrition,” Freddie Freeman said. “You eat the cheesesteaks in the visiting clubhouse.” nytimes.com/athletic/74436…

Howie Roseman is down here for the Derby. Meets Nick Swisher.

Cool to see the national spotlight, for a moment, on Cristopher Sánchez. Two of my favorite stories from the last few years were on his rise … On how he transformed his body: nytimes.com/athletic/62352… On a focused game of catch: nytimes.com/athletic/73302…

“It’s amazing that he’s a Sixer” Caught up with Nick Nurse yesterday. He talked a number of subjects. The story, is here. Please read - nytimes.com/athletic/74394…