Sunday marked a bittersweet moment for Nolan Smith.
As the Eagles gathered together in the victorious locker room at Lincoln Financial Field after dispatching the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round, Head Coach Nick Sirianni singled out Smith, the second-year outside linebacker/edge rusher, who had arguably the biggest game of his career on a playoff stage.
"He is just a nasty, violent football player," Sirianni told the team before tossing the game ball to Smith.
"It means a lot to have a lot of respect from your head coach," said Smith, who had the first multi-sack game of his career. "Our head coach is a great guy. I think he's amazing. He's been around football for a long time. Man, just the way he talks to his players and the way he motivates us and gets us that extra gear. He makes it feel like he really trusts you. That's what this business is about, just as men, being able to trust each other and talk to each other and say, 'This is good. This is bad.' Point out all our flaws in a coaching way."
At the same time, Smith's heart was hurting. His teammate Nakobe Dean suffered a season-ending knee injury. More than a teammate, they were roommates at the University of Georgia. They're as close as brothers.
"Just got to go harder. Just go harder for him, just like we did for BG (Brandon Graham). And it just hits me a little more home. That's my guy. I felt that one a lot, kind of hurt my heart," Smith said.
"When he's out there, he's giving us his all. He's setting the front. That's what you want from your MIKE linebacker. We got to live that through him."
The sacks certainly stood out from Smith's performance. The first came on a third down to end a Green Bay drive in the first quarter with the Eagles ahead. The second one came on the first play of the Packers' last-gasp drive in the fourth quarter to salvage their season. But there's so much more depth to Smith's game.
Before the opening kickoff Sunday, Smith was in the huddle with the special teams unit urging his teammates to start the party. Smith was right there chipping in on special teams, a role he thrived in as a rookie and at the start of this season before his defensive responsibilities expanded following Graham's injury. Smith recorded a tackle on special teams as well on Sunday.
"Just his energy. You could run 4.2 and not give energy the entirety of your career. He gives energy regardless if it's Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Obviously, it's infectious on Sunday," Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay said. "He's in these meetings, he's dialed in. He asks questions. He just wants to help out. I see him up in Coach Wash's (Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers Coach Jeremiah) room on Fridays after a lighter practice, getting more feedback, 'What can I get better at?'
"His intangibles and his want to be great is just unbelievable and it shows it helps out the young guys. Jalyx (Hunt) is up there hanging out trying to be a sponge as much as he possibly can. Nolan is one of those guys that you really are fortunate to be around as a coach."
The first matchup with the Rams, Sunday's Divisional Round opponent, was an inflection point for Smith. That was the game where Graham suffered his season-ending triceps injury, which propelled Smith into the spotlight. The 2023 first-round pick (No. 30 overall) has played at least 40 snaps on defense in every game since. He's responded with five sacks, including the two from last Sunday. Listed at 6-foot-2, 238 pounds, Smith combines toughness and flexibility to alter opposing offensive game plans.
"I know how physical Nolan is. I've known how physical Nolan is since the day he got here. He's heavy-handed. Big-time hitter. Man, he is so tough," Sirianni said.
Sirianni praised Smith's mental approach as well.
"We live in such a world where it's like instant gratification. Anything worthwhile is going to take time. Anything worthwhile is going to take time," the head coach said. "Whenever everyone is telling you how good you are, don't believe it. When everyone is telling you you're a bust, just put your head down and win and get better. I think that's what he's done."
On the other sideline at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday will be another former Georgia first-round pick in Super Bowl Champion Matthew Stafford, whom Smith has admired for a long time.
"We got to make sure we keep him in the pocket and make sure we hit him, try to get hits on him and try to disrupt him a little bit. But man, he's got a great arm. He's a great quarterback. I watched him growing up throwing to Megatron (Calvin Johnson). Georgia guy. That's kind of crazy now being on the same field as him. He's the ultimate competitor," Smith said.
Smith, who hit Stafford twice in that first matchup, respects the opposition. But as someone with plenty of big-game experience dating back to his college days, Smith is not shying away from the challenge, whatsoever.
