IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR THE SUPER BOWL CHAMPS- THE 2025 SEASON HAS STARTED FOR THE BIRDS
- Al Thompson
- 4 hours ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 2 minutes ago
If you want a thumbnail description of the start of the 2025 Eagles season that officially started with OTAs last week…”Business as usual” may be the best way to sum it up.
Players went about their business with stretching, blocking drills, defensive backs, receivers and all the other positions going through their routines like any other year.
But this year is different obviously.
The Birds are defending Super Bowl champions. They survived the NFL’s attempt to ban their signature “Tush Push.” They lost key players such as Milt Williams, Josh Sweat and Isaiah Rodgers and Mekhi Becton to free agency plus Brandon Graham to retirement.
New faces with promising futures include linebacker Jihaad Campbell, safety Andrew Mukuba, defensive lineman Ty Robinson, defensive back Mac McWilliams, linebacker Smael Mondon, Jr, offensive lineman Myles Hinton, Drew Kendall, Cameron Williams, quarterback Kyle McCord and linebacker Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Jr.
The last three days of OTAs take place this week before mandatory mini-camp takes place at the end of the month.
These light practices are voluntary. No one should read into anything if a player is not present.
Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Campbell and Nakobe Dean are still rehabbing and did not participate.
Return specialist Avery Williams and edge rusher Bryce Huff, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, and Reed Blankenship were not seen at the practice.
Williams seemed peculiar because of his status on the roster. Many speculate that Huff was not there because the Eagles may have informed his agent that the team is trading him.
In fact, multiple reports have Huff resigning a reworked contract as part of a trade with the San Francisco 49ers.
NEW BUT FAMILIAR
One familiar face at OTA is familiar but returning in a new role. And that is Kevin Patullo.
According to the Eagles website, Patullo enters his fifth year with the Philadelphia Eagles as the new offensive coordinator.
He replaces Kellen Moore, who was hired as the head coach of New Orleans Saints aftet the Birds win the Super Bowl .
Patullo previously served as the Eagles' passing game coordinator from 2021-24, including holding the added title and responsibilities of associate head coach for two years (2023-24).
At his press conference last week, Petullo was asked how different could the offense be this year,
“Well, I mean as far as different, we go through the process at the end of each year of examining what we do well, what we need to improve upon, and then really any trends or anything we see that we can add to it.
“I think really when you say different,” Patullo continued. “I think it's going to be like what do our players do best? Like it's been, and then from there we just expand upon it.
“Hey, we're really good at this. Let's bring this to the table and try this and see where we can take it. I think really when you look at just our staff as a whole, we've added some new coaches, so they bring some other layers to it too and the knowledge of what they have from their background.
“I think as we go forward, as we build this thing together as a staff, you'll see some new wrinkles here and there, but more so it's just kind of building on what our players do best”
Patullo was then asked for his thoughts on the push surviving another season?
“I mean, it's great for us,” the 43-year-old said. “We get to continue to use it and have our compliments off it and do different things. So it's fun. It's something we're passionate about, we're very detailed about. We put a lot of work in as a staff and it's exciting to be able to continue to use it.”
Patullo was asked to reveal some of the things he believes he can bring to the offense in his current role that he maybe wasn’t able to last year or the past years in other roles.
“I think really it comes down to just my experience,” Patullo said. “I've been here with Nick (Sirianni) since day one.
“Knowing the guys and understanding them, their skill sets, what they can do and kind of being in a different role to where I saw big picture at all times and now I can concentrate on certain things and I've been in each room, every year with the receivers and the quarterbacks and spread my knowledge around.
“Now it's just a matter of getting to know the players at a different level, but they still trust me in that capacity, which is the background that I kind of had with him.”
GOEDERT, HUNT, DEJEAN, MITCHELL ENTER 2025 WITH DIFFERENT STORIES
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert had been a staple at the position since he entered the league as the Eagles second round pick in 2018.
But last season, he missed seven regular season games due to injury. His numbers for 2024 were not great…42 receptions, 476 yards and two TDs.
He has missed time over injuries throughout his time as an Eagle. But there is no denying his talent and toughness.
In the Birds four playoff wins last season, Goedert caught 17 of his 20 targets for 215 yards and a highlight reel score against Green Bay in the Wild Card round.
Goedert put a stiff arm clinic against Packers defender Carrington Valentine on his way to a 24-yard score. The Eagles won 22-10.
The Eagles considered their options on keeping the 30-year-old or moving in another direction.
In the end, the Birds and former South Dakota State standout worked out a deal for 2025.
According to spotrac.com, the one-year deal was worth $10,714,463 with $10 million in the form of a signing bonus.
According to the website, Goedert has made $47,383,876 as an Eagle.
“We came to the agreement for the contract that I’m on, I’m super psyched to be back here,” Goedert said. “I’ve got a lotta love for a lot of people here. I’ve got a lot of love for a lot of people in this building. I’ve got a lot of love for Philadelphia. I’m super glad to be back. We’ve got high expectations and I want to help us get back to where we were last year.”
Goedert said most of the talking went on between Howie Roseman and his agent Chase Callahan of Excel Sports Management (according to spotrac.com).
“There was a lot of emotions that went on during the offseason,” Goedert said. “You’re not sure if you’re going to be here, not sure if you’re not. That was sad emotions of leaving, there was excited (emotions) of a change and seeing something different. It just went back and forth and tried to and balance those (emotions).
“The offseason, it’s been seven off seasons and this is the first time I’ve had to deal with this so I am pretty lucky. It was an interesting feeling for sure. I’m excited that we able to get something done and I get to come back here. It’s a place I’m really comfortable…like I said, it’s a place I’ve got a lot of love for…I’m just glad to be back.”
Outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt, drafted in the third round of the 2024 draft our of Houston Christian. The 6-foot-3, 258-pounder was expected to be a big of a project.
He played well enough to make Huff expendable.
Entering his second season, Hunt talked about how different it is coming into OTAs.
“I think this offseason, I just know a lot more of what is expected of me and how I play against tackles across the league,” said Hunt, who in the playoffs, recoded ten tackles (seven solo), 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss and three QB hits. “I just know a lot more. So, I've been able to approach my game in a more professional way by figuring out what moves I want to work on, who I should watch, what I should watch and be a lot more technical.
“That is the biggest difference...players who are elite and good, their technicality levels are on a completely different level. If I want to be great at my position, in this league, I've got to be technical. That's what I've been focused on to change from last year to this year.”
Defensive back Cooper DeJean has already turned in a stellar rookie season. But his pick-six in the Super Bowl, made him a national star. He was asked how he was handling his newfound fame,
“It's been a little different, a little different..just walking around,” DeJean said. “I try to hide it as much as I can, but it gets harder and harder. But [fame] is not going to change who I am as a person. I'm just going to be myself..I haven't changed, but things around me have changed a little bit. I'm still the same person.”
He continued later in the press conference about dealing with all the attention.
“I don't think...whether I become more popular in the City or whatever, it's not going to change who I am,” DeJean said. “I'm still continuing to work and be the best I can be at my job. There's a lot of things I can get better at coming off last season and be ready for this season.
“I am coming this year to get stronger and faster. I want to be more comfortable out on the field and work on my techniques. I haven't changed as a person at all.”
Defensive back Quinyon Mitchell also had an outstanding rookie season.He was asked if fame is affecting him.
“I'm the same dude, I've always been the same dude.”
A man of few Mitchell was asked about on challenges online from Cowboys All Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb and All Pro linebacker Micah Parsons.
Back in April, the Cowboys debuted “America’s Stream: Countdown to Schedule Release,” featuring linebacker Micah Parsons, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and a few other Dallas players participating in a livestream from a golf course.
According to the site, when the subject turned to the Week 1 matchup, Parsons and Lamb took aim at Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and his nickname, “Quinyonamo Bay,”
inspired by Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. Navy detention center in Cuba. As Parsons approached a tent, he explained Mitchell’s nickname to his teammates, including Lamb.
Parsons mentioned people were saying Lamb was headed there. Lamb did not look amused.
“Stop the cap,” Lamb said as his hat was blown off his head by the wind. For those who need an explanation, “cap” is slang for something that is a lie. “I have never been locked down on any island.”
Mitchell was asked about all the trash talk from the Dallas superstars, the former Toledo standout simply replied.
"I don’t really get into the internet," Mitchell said Wednesday.
According to Pro Football Focus, in the first game Mitchell covered Lamb, Lamb was targeted only once, catching the pass for 5 yards. Mitchell has filed to trademark his nickname.
Several Eagles players and coaches have been seen wearing hoodies with the “Quinyonamo Bay” reference. *
Note: Some additional stats from spotrac.com and pro-football-reference.com.
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
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