Tag: Eagles

Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) holds the NFC Championship trophy after a victory in the NFC Championship game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Jalen Hurts one of TIME’s 100 most influential people

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people of 2025.

The Super Bowl LIX MVP guided the Eagles to a lopsided 40-22 win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9.

Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, a five-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees, wrote the introductory piece on Hurts for the publication.

“We connected shortly after (the Super Bowl), and the only thing he asked about was insight on going back and winning again,” Jeter wrote. “Sometimes people win, then exhale. Jalen is not exhaling. He’s embracing the next challenge. Win or lose, Jalen’s resilience and determination offer all of us something to admire.”

Hurts, 26, whose Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII, threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 72 yards and a score in February’s rematch in New Orleans.

The NFL MVP runner-up in 2022, Hurts has compiled a 46-20 record as a starter in the regular season with 140 total touchdowns (85 passing, 55 rushing TDs) in 77 games.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) lines up for the tush push play on the goal line against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Vote on tush push ban tabled by owners

Posted on | by Field Level Media

NFL owners are tabling a vote on whether to ban the “tush push” play at the annual league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

The Green Bay Packers had proposed a ban on the play, which the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts, especially, run with great success in short-yardage situations. The Packers’ proposal sought “to prohibit any offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap.”

The decision not to vote now does not mean the issue won’t be put before owners in the future. It means the owners could hold further discussions and the proposal could return with modifications.

Concerns about player safety — particularly the possibility of neck injuries because of the way both offensive and defensive players must position their bodies during the play — has fueled the thought of a potential ban.

“I think certainly the medical professionals at the league have high concerns about putting players in positions that could lead to catastrophic injuries,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said, per The Athletic. “I think this is something that needs to be discussed and we need to be proactive with it rather than be reactive on that.

“I think we owe it to our players. It’s not about success. It’s about safety here.”

Not everyone agrees, including Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen.

“I’m not in favor of taking it out. I think it’s good for the game,” Steichen said, according to The Athletic. “What (the Eagles) do, they do it better than anyone. Other teams are doing it. Buffalo’s doing it. I think it’s been around for a long time, to be completely honest, because when you’re on the half-yard line and backed up, you gotta run a QB sneak. People (are) usually back there pushing.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears guard Matt Pryor (79) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Report: Eagles signing OL Matt Pryor

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Offensive lineman Matt Pryor reportedly will be making a second stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pryor agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the team that selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Pryor, 30, could be in play for the Eagles’ right guard position after Mekhi Becton departed for the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.

Pryor played in 27 games (10 starts) over three seasons with the Eagles (2018-20) before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. He also played with the San Francisco 49ers and Bears, appearing in all 17 games (15 starts) with Chicago in 2024.

He has played in 92 games (39 starts) in his NFL career.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers tight end Ian Thomas (80) during pre game warm ups against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

NFL transactions: Raiders sign DT Fotu, TE Thomas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Las Vegas Raiders signed unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Leki Fotu and tight end Ian Thomas to contracts on Tuesday.

Terms of the deals were not announced by the team.

Fotu, 26, recorded 92 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 58 career games (22 starts) with the Arizona Cardinals (2020-2023) and New York Jets (2024).

Thomas, 28, had 119 catches for 1,062 yards with four touchdowns in 99 career games (54 starts) with the Carolina Panthers (2018-24).

–The New York Giants re-signed offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie.

Stinnie, 31, played in 16 games (three starts) last season with the Giants.

Signed as an undrafted rookie by Tennessee, Stinnie played in 47 career games (15 starts) with the Titans (2018-19), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-23) and Giants.

–The Philadelphia Eagles added depth to their offensive line by signing veteran tackle Kendall Lamm to a contract.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lamm, 32, underwent back surgery after playing in 15 games (seven starts) last season with the Miami Dolphins. He has also spent time with the Houston Texans (2015-18), Cleveland Browns (2019-20) and Titans (2021).

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) fights the tackle by Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Lions propose playoff seeding change

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The high-powered Detroit Lions nearly had to hit the road to open the playoffs in January before winning their regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.

Had Detroit lost that game, Minnesota would have wrapped up the ultra-competitive NFC North and the Lions would’ve dropped to the conference’s fifth seed as the team that featured the best record without a division title.

That notion apparently didn’t sit well with the Lions, who proposed that playoff seeding should be based on record — regardless of division honors. That would also mean that winning a division title would not guarantee a home game in the wild-card round.

The NFL revealed a list of potential rule changes on Wednesday, and owners are scheduled to meet on March 30-April 2 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Proposals require the approval of at least 24 of the 32 teams.

Also Wednesday, the Green Bay Packers’ formally requested to ban the “tush push” short-yardage play commonly used by the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We’re not very successful against it, I know that,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last month at the NFL Scouting Combine. “To be honest with you, I haven’t put much thought into it. It’s been around for a while, we’ve used it in different fashions with our tight end, so again, I think there will be a lot of discussions about it. I’ve got to look at some of the information as far as injury rates, things like that, to see. But we’ll see.”

More than half of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ 55 career regular-season rushing touchdowns reached the end zone from the tight, rugby-like formation with running backs angled near Hurts to help shove him over the goal line at the snap. Last season, the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens ran variations of the same play.

Below is a list of other proposals:

–The Pittsburgh Steelers proposed that teams would be allowed to have one call with prospective unrestricted free agents from other teams and their agents during the negotiating window before the start of the league year.

–The Lions also proposed eliminating the automatic first down that comes with an illegal contact or defensive holding penalty.

–The Eagles proposed giving both teams a guaranteed possession in overtime during the regular season, aligning with the current playoff rules.

–The Washington Commanders proposed allowing teams to secure scouting credentials for games in the final two weeks of the season for potential playoff opponents.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Fred Johnson (74) against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NFL transactions roundup: Jaguars to sign OT Fred Johnson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars will sign offensive tackle Fred Johnson to a one-year contract, his agent told ESPN on Wednesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed for the 6-foot-7, 326-pound Johnson, who played in all 17 games (six starts) last season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The reported move will return Johnson to the Sunshine State. He was born in Florida and played collegiately for the Gators.

A Super Bowl champion with Philadelphia, Johnson, 27, has played in 62 games (14 starts) with the Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Eagles.

–The Washington Commanders signed defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wise, 30, spent eight seasons with the New England Patriots. who selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. In 126 career games (61 starts), he has 314 tackles (34 for loss), 34 sacks, 90 quarterback hits, 12 pass breakups, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

–The Tennessee Titans plan to re-sign running back Julius Chestnut to a one-year deal.

Chestnut, 24, is a three-year veteran who joined the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He played in all 17 games and rushed 22 times for 102 yards (4.6 yards per carry).

Last season, he played 50 percent of the Titans’ snaps on special teams. He returned 13 kickoffs for 337 yards.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) on the bench during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Eagles extend, enrich standout RT Lane Johnson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles and six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson agreed to a one-year contract extension on Monday, keeping him in the fold for the Super Bowl champs through the 2027 season.

Johnson, a 12-year veteran, all with Philadelphia, is having a total of $8 million added for the next two seasons, plus an extra $30 million guaranteed. That brings his compensation for 2025-26 to $48 million, with $40 million assured.

Johnson, who turns 35 in May, will earn $25 million in 2027. He has been an All-Pro first- or second-team selection four times, including each of the past three seasons, and has been a starter in all 158 of his games with the Eagles.

Johnson did not surrender a sack last season, and gave up just one quarterback hit and six pressures. Those numbers are especially significant given that he led the NFL with a so-called “island rate” of 75 percent. That statistic counts the amount of snaps a lineman is left one-on-one with a defensive lineman on quarterback drop-backs.

–Field Level Media

New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari smiles during a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Jan. 7, 2024.

Eagles add former Giants DE Azeez Ojulari

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles signed edge rusher Azeez Ojulari on Monday, with ESPN and The Athletic reporting it is a one-year agreement worth $4 million.

Ojulari, 24, spent his first four years in the league with the NFC East rival New York Giants.

After an eight-sack rookie season, Ojulari, a second-round pick in the 2021 draft, struggled to say healthy and did not play more than 11 games in any of the three seasons that followed.

In 11 games (five starts) for New York in 2024, Ojulari racked up 28 tackles, six sacks and a fumble recovery. In 46 games (30 starts) for his career, he has 107 tackles, 22 sacks, four forced fumbles and three recoveries.

Ojulari joins the defending Super Bowl champions and is the latest former Georgia player on a defense with several other Bulldogs, including Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith, Kelee Ringo and Lewis Cine.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon (28) breaks away from Tennessee Titans strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (24) for a touchdown run in the third quarter during their football game on December 27, 2020, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Reports: Eagles sign RB AJ Dillon to 1-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing free agent running back AJ Dillon, who missed the entire 2024 season with a neck injury, according to reports from NFL Network and the Associated Press.

It’s a one-year deal for Dillon, though financial terms were not reported.

The 6-foot, 247-pound back gives the Eagles a power rusher behind star RB Saquon Barkley.

Dillon, 26, has rushed for 2,428 yards and 16 touchdowns in 60 career games (11 starts) with the Green Bay Packers, who drafted him in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2020 draft. He also has 86 receptions out of the backfield for 763 yards and two scores.

Dillon sat out last season with a neck stinger. He also finished the 2023 season on injured reserve with the same injury that forced him to miss the final two games.

Dillon has received clearances from the top neck specialists in the country, per NFL Network.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; President Donald Trump (center) salutes alongside daughter Ivanka Trump (right) and New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson during the national anthem before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Eagles to celebrate Super Bowl win at White House

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Eagles are welcome in the White House, and Philadelphia accepted an invitation to celebrate its Super Bowl LIX win on April 28.

Two days after the completion of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Eagles are scheduled to attend a ceremony at the White House honoring the 2024 champions for their win over the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans last month.

“I know there was a lot of fake news about an invitation that wasn’t sent or was sent, we want to correct the record: we sent an invitation, they enthusiastically accepted, and you will see them here on April 28,” White House press secretary Karoline Levitt said Tuesday.

The Eagles did not attend the White House after winning Super Bowl LII in 2018. President Donald Trump, then serving his first term, called off the event after learning several prominent players planned not to attend. Only four players from the 2018 Super Bowl champion were on the roster for the 2024 season and latest Lombardi Trophy.

The 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visited the White House in February.

–Field Level Media