A love letter for every Eagles fan whose heart beats Midnight Green
It's been nearly six months since the Philadelphia Eagles pummeled the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. So much has changed, and at the same time, so much has remained recognizable and familiar.
Nick Sirianni is still here. So is every offensive starter from last season's run, minus the aforementioned Mekhi Becton. There was a shift at the offensive coordinator position. Kellen Moore is gone. Kevin Patullo got promoted, leaving most of the questions on defense.
Gone are starters like C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Darius Slay, and Josh Sweat, but other cornerstones like Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith remain. Vic Fangio returns for year two as defensive coordinator. What he did to repair the damage done by Sean Desai and Matt Patricia last season was nothing short of amazing.
He's going to be around for as long as he'd like to be. He has communicated that he's no longer interested in potential head-coaching jobs, so even though the defense was raided, it isn't the punctured unit that so many keep trying to predict it will be.
In addition to those previously mentioned, essential role players like Oren Burks, Milton Williams, Avonte Maddox, and Isaiah Rodgers. We'll miss every one of them, but we've also learned Philadelphia can win if each of them is absent.
The Birds will be fine. Sure, it's tough to replace all of those guys at the same time, but Philadelphia will press on. We just need to learn about some of the new guys: who they are, how they will play, and how they will blend with the fan base and city.
So, welcome to Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba. To Ty Robinson, Mac McWilliams, Smael Mondon, and Antwaun Powell-Ryland, we say welcome. We welcome Azeez Ojulari, Adoree' Jackson, Josh Uche, and Ogbo Okoronkwo. We would like to extend a warm welcome back to Patrick Johnson.
Welcome back to training camp, the preseason, and eventually the 93rd season in franchise history. Welcome back to the best atmosphere in sports. Welcome back to Lincoln Financial Field and those black, Kelly Green, and Midnight Green jerseys.
Greatness awaits. Hopefully, another deep playoff run awaits as well. The world's best fans will be watching. Expect them to celebrate when this team does its best. Expect correction when they feel like this team doesn't.
This is a team full of characters with character. They're heroes. They're role models. They're family, and they're the defending champions, even if they don't want to be called that. To our Birds, we extend our gratitude for the 2024-25 campaign, and we wish you a great season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bryce Harper vs. Rob Manfred, Emmanuel Clase put on leave & Remembering Ryne Sandberg
Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Tensions were high in Philadelphia last week when Rob Manfred conducted his annual meeting with the Phillies. These meetings are something he does with each team every year. Although it is reported the words "salary cap" were not mentioned, the discussion of the "game's economics" caused Bryce Harper to confront Manfred and cuss him out. Jake and Jordan fill you in on all the information leading up to the incident and what the bigger picture is. What does this mean for the future of the CBA negotiations and how do the players and league proceed from here? Is a lockout looming? The guys break it all down. There have always been issues with gambling in sports, and the legalization of gambling may have made that slope even slipperier. The latest gambling issue is in Cleveland. Star closer for the Cleveland Guardians, Emmanuel Clase, has been placed on the restricted list during an ongoing sports betting investigation. Clase joins his Guardians teammate, Luis Ortiz, as part of the investigation. More information will come out about the situation, but Jake and Jordan fill you in on all of the info there is currently surrounding the situation, where it may go from here and what this means for both Clase and the Guardians. Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg died on Monday at the age of 65. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2024. The former second baseman for the Cubs was a 10-time All-Star, 9-time Gold Glove winner and the 1984 NL MVP. Jake and Jordan react to the tragic news and remember the Chicago icon. Plus, the MLB Trade Deadline is only a day away. The guys run through some trades that have already happened as we gear up for our live Trade Deadline Show. Be sure to join us tomorrow at 5:30 pm ET on YouTube, X, Facebook or TikTok as the guys react to the final minutes of the deadline and Jake and Jordan give all of their takeaways. Back-to-back days of Baseball Bar-B-Cast! What could be better? Come join us on this Wednesday, and we will see you again tomorrow, LIVE, on Baseball Bar-B-Cast. (1:58) - Emmanuel Clase gambling investigation ( 19:41) - Bryce Harper vs. Rob Manfred (35:32) - Remembering Ryne Sandberg (40:42) - Trade Deadline Preview (45:59) Ronald Acuña Jr. hurt again🖥️
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Eagles defense is showing some expected and positive signs at training camp
Eagles training camp has brought some positive signs from the Eagles defense. This wasn't much of a discussion until now, but it needs to be said. Who in the heck knew that Vic Fangio press conferences were so wildly entertaining? When the Philadelphia Eagles hired him as defensive coordinator, it felt like we'd be treated to more of what we got from Andy Reid. We have gotten nothing of the sort. Coach Fangio is a sound bite waiting to happen, a comedian with a headset. Oh, come on! We all love Andy Reid, but you know as well as everyone else that his media sit-downs were snoozers. Fangio blends honesty with the proper amount of secrecy. He combines comedy with teaching. He's a wealth of information (and quotes). We can see why his players would run through a wall for this guy. The first two days of Eagles camp played out exactly how you'd expect. Often, when teams reconnect and return to the field, the offense finds itself slightly ahead of its teammates on the other side of the ball. That's what we saw early, but new installs come, and as time passes, the defense catches up. Fangio's unit appears to be on schedule. Via Sports Illustrated: "Hunt was right on Saturday (he had playfully teased A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley on the way back to the locker room after practice). Defense won the day, putting an end to the first two days of practice when it appeared the offense won. The defense flexed its muscle again on Monday, but the difference wasn't as vast as it was 48 hours earlier. Tuesday, when full pads came on for the first time, it was probably a push, though if you're going to pick one, give it to the D." Jihaad Campbell's early arrival was a pleasant surprise. Quinyon Mitchell snagged the first interception of camp. Coach Fangio's unit has been pretty remarkable. There's still work to be done. This announcement comes with five practices in the books, but we can all rest easy. With last season in the rearview mirror, this team, defense included, hopes to build on the success and the performance in Super Bowl 59.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
One last look at the greatest Eagles defensive series in franchise history
The Eagles have enjoyed some great defensive moments over the years, but nothing tops what we witnessed in Super Bowl 59. Take this from someone who has watched several decades of Philadelphia Eagles football. These are the thoughts of someone who watched Buddy Ryan's teams and saw so many great defensive performances. These are the thoughts of someone who watched Reggie White, Bud Carson, Jimmy Johnson, and this past football season. Based on the opponent, stage, and situation, the following statement can be made with confidence. There has never been a more impressive defensive series in this great franchise's history than the one we witnessed during the Kansas City Chiefs' fourth offensive drive in Super Bowl 59. Nothing compares. Several decades of history were relived before saying that. Yes, the Body Bag Game was considered. So was that 11-sack game vs. Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys in 1991. An honorable mention is for the House of Pain Game vs. the Houston Oilers (also in 1991). It's also necessary to mention that time Philadelphia stopped Emmett Smith on fourth down not once, but twice. There was the 'The Greatest Goal-Line Stand Ever'. Philadelphia stopped the Arizona Cardinals seven times inside the one-yard line or closer, but that wasn't a game played in the Super Bowl. None of those aforementioned moments came vs. a favored two-time defending champion in search of an unprecedented 'three-peat'. It's for that reason that one defensive series on football's biggest stage stands alone and is head and shoulders above all others. With 8:38 remaining in the second quarter of SB LIX, Patrick Mahomes and his offensive teammates took the field hoping to chip away at a 10-0 Eagles lead. What came next was two sacks and a Cooper DeJean interception returned for six points by the then-rookie on his birthday. That expanded the lead to 16 points. Jake Elliott's extra point would put Philadelphia up on the scoreboard by a 17-0 margin. A.J. Brown hauled one in on a crossing route before halftime. 'The dagger', Jalen Hurts' bomb to DeVonta Smith, would rain down in the third quarter, but K.C.'s fourth offensive drive sealed this game. That drive is where the Birds imposed their will and broke that of the Chiefs. There was still much of the second quarter remaining and an entire half to play, but the game was over. The Eagles won their second Super Bowl in the same manner they won their first, by vanquishing a dynasty. It begged a question. If this defense can be this good against this team on this stage, what might the future look like? The answer is simple. The future is blinding for Vic Fangio and company moving forward. His core is young. Much of Philadelphia's defensive talent is still playing under their rookie contract. That means these guys will be around for a while. Can you imagine? Our jobs are easy. We need only watch them all grow up together. Much of the cast from the 2024-25 team is gone, but there's a solid foundation moving forward. Sure, we've seen great defenses in the past and so many great games and moments, but here's a statement that can be made with confidence. The best Eagles football may be yet to come.
