Can the Eagles Avoid a Super Bowl Hangover?
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a major high after taking home the Lombardi Trophy last season. The Super Bowl hangover is a much-debated phenomenon by sports fans everywhere, but is it based in reality or the anxieties of fans? Many factors contribute to the success or failure of a team. In order to predict the possible outcomes for Philly’s upcoming season, history, coaching and player changes, and schedule difficulty should be fully examined before rushing to assumptions.
The Super Bowl Hangover
The basis of the phenomenon is that teams will have poor performance or a slump following the end of their championship season. The question of whether the Super Bowl hangover is real is answered differently by everyone. If you ask about teams like the San Francisco 49ers or the Los Angeles Rams, they can prove just how quickly dominance can slip. However, history has also shown that Super Bowl-winning teams make the playoffs almost 72% of the time the following season, and 25% return to the Super Bowl. More rare than this is the capacity of a team to win two championships back-to-back, as it has only been achieved nine times in Super Bowl history.
Only seven teams in history have posted a losing record in their next campaign after winning the championship. As for the Eagles, their last Super Bowl win was in the 2017 season. In their next season, they showed a more mediocre overall performance, but still ended the 2018 regular season with a record of 9-7. Despite this, some promising indicators of the passion within the franchise were their ability to enter the 2018 season with a week one win and the fight to make it to the playoffs again. It is this same hunger that could help the team avoid the Super Bowl hangover in their 2025 run.
Coaching Changes
Both roster and coaching changes could play a huge role in the fate of the 2025 season. Nick Sirianni has added quite a few new coaches to his staff, including a new assistant to the head coach, Cole Peterson. Besides Peterson, all new coaching positions have been added to the offensive side of the ball, since this is where a lot of holes were left after the 2024 championship campaign. Most notably, Kellen Moore parted with the Birds to take a head coach position with the New Orleans Saints.
Kevin Patullo is left with big shoes to fill since he was promoted to the offensive coordinator position. Alongside Patullo are new hires: Scot Loeffler, quarterbacks coach; Greg Austin, assistant offensive line coach; Montgomery VanGorder, offensive quality control; and Parks Frazier, passing game coordinator. Frazier has spent time on the sideline with Sirianni in the past during their time with the Indianapolis Colts. Could this chemistry possibly help the team avoid the Super Bowl hangover?
Roster Changes
When it comes to the playmakers, a real concern for the Birds is the defensive losses to the team. Two cornerbacks, Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers, have left Philly. Additionally, defensive ends Milton Williams and Josh Sweat have gone on to play for different teams in the 2025 season. The departure of these four notable defensive starters could be alarming for the Eagles’ top-ranked defense. This puts a lot of pressure on the young defensive players who will be forced to step up to avoid a Super Bowl hangover. Luckily, the team holds on to Zack Baun and Joshua Uche, two veteran leaders who must help guide the defense this upcoming season.
Schedule Difficulty
The Eagles will not have much room to breathe with the difficulty of their schedule this season. In this upcoming campaign, their NFC East division rivals will not be easy feats this year. Philly will face the Dallas Cowboys, possibly their biggest rival, twice this season for two high-stakes showdowns. The Eagles will face off against many other threatening opponents in the regular season as well, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills, and the 49ers. These teams are highly capable of exposing the Birds’ weaknesses. The Chiefs are out for revenge, and Andy Reid’s creative offense has been established as a true threat to the league. With two strong defensive ends gone, and Josh Allen’s mobility developing each year, Philly’s pass rush must strengthen to stop the Bills. Any lack of depth for Philly’s defense could be exploited by the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan’s run-heavy but versatile offense. Every stretch of the schedule could cause drawbacks for the team; being champions only makes Philadelphia more of a target. Consistency is crucial if they want to repeat their success and avoid a dreadful Super Bowl hangover.
Mindset and Potential
Ultimately, the biggest obstacle in the way of success may be mental in nature. Complacency and overlooking teams may lead to the Eagles’ downfall after achieving the pinnacle of what the sport has to offer. This season is a test of leadership and resilience. Avoiding the slump by staying hungry with eyes on the prize is the key. The Birds have a chance to build sustained dominance—if they can stay locked in, they can be defined by their fight and skills, not by the fear of a Super Bowl hangover.
