The Philadelphia Eagles have a spring in their step following their first Super Bowl title. Now they’re preparing for their first NFL season with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio now in charge. The Eagles, who boasted the league’s top-ranked defense in 2024, now face the challenge of maintaining their championship level while integrating new faces and addressing injuries.
Fangio’s defensive philosophy will be defense to the team’s hope of repeating that fortune. The Eagles’ defense has been a landing spot for plenty of other very good players. People like Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, Zack Baun, Cooper DeJean have all done amazing things. All four are viewed as rising stars whose continued development is key to the team’s long-term success. Carter, especially, has drawn rave reviews for his way-too-early look at how he can physically dominate college football.
We had an awesome offseason, awesome training camp,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. And just building on that solid foundation we’ve really kind of worked on over the years.
Mitchell and Baun are poised to start at important positions this season. The pairing of Baun and Jihaad Campbell could give the Saints a violent, playmaking middle linebacking duo for years to come. Campbell had some impressive moments in training camp, helping to cement his reputation as a potential key cog in the Eagles’ defensive front.
Along with their work on the defensive end, the Eagles are trying to get their offensive game sharp. With new play caller Kevin Patullo now calling the shots, Hurts is primed to create chaos. He’s looking to maximize his firm connection with receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith from practice to the gridiron. The trio knows each other’s skills intimately. That ironclad bond will serve them well as they navigate one of the more daunting schedules in all of FBS this fall.
Even the team’s high spirits are not immune to challenges. And look, Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata each missed multiple practices as they dealt with injuries. This leads to questions about if they’ll even be ready for the opening matchups. At the same time, Brown faced his own obstacles. He was sidelined for most of August with a hamstring injury, which could hinder him in the early weeks of the season.
Despite their impressive 4-0 start, the Eagles still have to address their cornerback situation. Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson rotated through sharing first-team reps all summer long. Fangio understood it’s in training camp that you almost always find out who’s going to win the starting jobs. The clarity for the cornerback role, he admitted, is even more murky.
Historically speaking, it does eventually become clear to everyone as to who is winning the job. That hadn’t happened yet, Fangio stated.
The upcoming season presents formidable opponents for the Eagles, including the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These matchups will certainly challenge the team’s depth and resilience as they hope to replicate their championship success from last season.
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