Eagles Had the Right People

The Philadelphia Eagles are the Super Bowl Champions, and to the surprise of many, they absolutely dominated the Chiefs from start to finish!

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts quieted his critics with his MVP performance. The defense forced turnovers all night, and players shined all over the field.

It was shocking that the Chiefs, especially Patrick Mahomes, played as poorly as they did. But the Eagles deserve credit for putting together an impressive and overwhelming team effort from everyone as they stepped up on the big stage.

In many ways, considering Philadelphia's roster and coaching staff, we shouldn't have been surprised at all.

Head coach Nick Sirianni kept this team on the right track, put together the perfect game plan, and amazingly, the team executed it.

Following the game, in an interview with Tom Rinaldi of Fox Sports, he said, "This is the ultimate team game. You can't be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody. Offense, defense, special teams…"

The stronger team won last night, and we can't overlook the remarkable job Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, and Sirianni did in bringing in the right people. They filled this roster and coaching staff with elite talent and key contributors and surrounded Jalen Hurts with a stout offensive line and unbelievable weapons.

By using the proper discernment, intentionality, and evaluation, here are a few of the significant moves made before this season that helped in constructing this great Eagles team:

• Hired Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator and Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, who both did a phenomenal job.

• Signed Saquon Barkley, who ran for the most rushing yards in league history this season and postseason combined.

• Signed Zack Baun, who was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year and had an interception in the Super Bowl.

• Drafted Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, who were finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and DeJean took an interception back for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

• Traded Olamide Zaccheus for Jahan Dotson right before the season, and Dotson made a key catch in the first half of the Super Bowl that set up a touchdown.

Through the draft, free agency, trades, and coaching additions, they brought the right people into the franchise to surround who they already had on the roster, and together, as a team, they won Super Bowl LIX.

As we celebrate the Eagles’ victory and admire how they built a winning team with the right people, I want to encourage us to apply the same approach to our relationships.

Are we using the proper discernment, intentionality, and evaluation to surround ourselves with people who help us "win"?

Coach Sirianni is right: "You can't be great without the greatness of others."

Proverbs 13:20 (ESV) tells us, "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."

As followers of Jesus, we must ask God to put the right people in our lives to help us learn, grow, and be at our very best. In turn, we do the same for others, investing in the relationships.

As we seek His guidance, He will show us the key contributors we need to “add or trade” as we build our lives and our "team" with the right people, including mentors and friends.

Proverbs 12:26 (NIV) says, "The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray."

Football might be the “ultimate team game” in sports, but we know our “ultimate team” is being a member of the body of Christ.

We want to be great servants of Christ, so when we work alongside others who share our desire for greatness, we help each other become great and experience victories together. We do this by recognizing that His greatness within us makes us great.

We then push and challenge each other, complement one another, and embrace our role on the team, understanding we need each other as members of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:16 (AMP) says, "From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love."

Romans 12:10 (NLT) challenges us to “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

Today, let’s examine our “roster” and ensure we have the right people on the journey as we love and serve one another.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m thankful for the friends and mentors You’ve put in my life. I pray that You would add the right people who will continue to push me toward greatness for Your purposes and glory. I desire to become more like Jesus as I live and serve alongside others who point me toward You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.