HC Nick Sirianni Furious Over Opponent's No. 22 Dirty Hit on DeVonta Smith in match Week 2 with Chiefs

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room is buzzing with outrage following a contentious moment in their Week 2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on September 14, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs emerged victorious with a 20-17 scoreline. Head coach Nick Sirianni has voiced his fury over a brutal takedown of star wide receiver DeVonta Smith by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie, identified as number 22, which he deems was unjustly unpunished despite a VAR review. The narrow defeat has only deepened the frustration within the team.

The incident unfolded in the third quarter, around 6:15 PM ET, when Smith hauled in a 25-yard pass and was immediately slammed to the ground by McDuffie with a forceful tackle from behind, driving his shoulder into the turf. Video footage, widely shared on X, highlighted the severity of the hit, prompting an Eagles challenge for "unnecessary roughness." However, after a VAR review, officials deemed the play legal, a call that has left Sirianni fuming. In a fiery post-game press conference, he didn’t mince words. “I can’t believe after watching VAR there wasn’t a single penalty for that takedown—I thought we were wrestling, not playing football. If the upstairs NFL crew hears me, penalize him post-game to set an example for others, or is the Chiefs roster still packing refs like last year?” he declared, his tone laced with sarcasm and indignation.

The absence of an in-game penalty has intensified the rivalry, with fans on X amplifying Sirianni’s outrage. @EaglesFanatic posted, “McDuffie’s hit on Smith was dirty—where’s the fine?” while @PhillySportsFan chimed in, “Sirianni’s spot on, that was a disgrace.” Smith, though rattled, managed 4 catches for 53 yards but appeared to favor his shoulder, raising concerns about his availability for Week 3. The Eagles’ defense held firm despite the controversy, but the 20-17 loss has sparked demands for NFL intervention.

Sirianni’s call for a post-game fine (potentially $10,000-$15,000, per NFL precedent) targets McDuffie, whose aggressive playstyle has drawn scrutiny before (e.g., 2024 fine vs. Broncos). With the next game against the Giants on deck, the Eagles coach is determined to safeguard his players. Will the NFL respond to his plea, or will this incident stoke further animosity? Eagles Nation stands firmly behind their coach, ready for the next battle.