For many on the field and the sidelines on Sunday, the Super Bowl is just part of life.
The Chiefs are making their fifth Super Bowl appearance in the last six seasons, while the Eagles are back for the second time in three years and return plenty of players from that 2022 squad.
That doesn’t mean the players and coaches who have been therefore don’t appreciate the magnitude of the moment, but there is something special about a first-timer playing or coaching in the Super Bowl.
Two years ago, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni let himself feel every bit of the emotions as he took in the final moments before Super Bowl 57. By the time the Eagles stepped onto the field for their first snap, he was already a meme.
Here’s a look back at Sirianni’s memorable national anthem moment captured by Fox cameras in 2023.
MORE: How Eagles developed and perfected signature ‘tush push’ play
Nick Sirianni crying video
Sirianni was visibly in tears during Chris Stapleton’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Arizona.
Between the gravity of standing on the sideline at the Super Bowl for the first time and a performance from Stapleton that is considered by many to be one of the best in Super Bowl history, it’s easy to understand how one could become emotional.
Many coaches would try to remain stoic during that moment, and maybe Sirianni did try. He gave America a much greater gift, though: a true encapsulation of how much the Super Bowl means to the players and coaches who have fought, in many cases, their whole careers just to get there.
Oh, and also plenty of meme material!
Nick Sirianni crying memes, explained
It didn’t matter whether the Eagles won or lost Super Bowl 57 — Sirianni was destined to become a meme from the moment Fox cameras caught him with tears flowing down his face.
The internet captioned gifs of Sirianni crying with every unfortunate scenario imaginable,
I wonder how many times the Sirianni meme has been used today? It’s modern masterpiece 😭 #SBLVII pic.twitter.com/83kpJYiN5K
— Stephen Pickering (@StephenPaul91) February 13, 2023
Even before the Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowls, there were plenty of script jokes.
When you know the script but gotta go out there still https://t.co/bgzMTi5m4Q
— Quintin Morris (@QuintinMorris_) February 13, 2023
There were also plenty of relatable uses of the Sirianni meme.
Opening Microsoft outlook tomorrow morning https://t.co/WATlb7JZ7E
— Zach Maley (@zachmaley_) February 13, 2023
Not all memes age well:
Nick Sirianni just found out the Giants are signing Daniel Jones to a long-term contract pic.twitter.com/UqUWOSDJdT
— New York Revival (@NewYorkRevival) February 12, 2023
After the deflating loss sunk in, Sirianni explained why he was so emotional during the national anthem.
I’ve dreamed about this since I’ve been two years old,” Sirianni told Pro Football Talk, explaining that he was thinking about everyone who helped him along the way, including his family and fellow coaches.
While Sirianni couldn’t finish the night on the podium with the Lombardi Trophy, he has a chance for redemption on Sunday in New Orleans.
MORE: How Nick Sirianni went from hot seat to Super Bowl return
Who is singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl?
Singer-songwriter Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem before Super Bowl 59. Batiste is a Louisiana native and five-time Grammy Award winner.
The national anthem will follow “America the Beautiful,” which will be performed by Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will be also be performed by Ledisi in the leadup to Super Bowl 59.
