After a devastating second half of the regular season for the Philadelphia Eagles, football season in the city of brotherly love came to an end on January 11 after a loss in the wild-card round against the San Francisco 49ers. Students at Eastern University were moving back to campus for the second semester, and many kept a keen eye on this game.
Eastern University junior Mason Rotelli described the loss as “deflating” and the season as “mentally tiring,” watching a second-half collapse similar to 2023. But not all was bad for the Eagles. They had numerous players who had outstanding years. “Cooper DeJean and [Quinyon] Mitchell were the anchor of our defense and produced at an All-Pro level,” freshman Freddie DiNardo said. Mitchell and DeJean were both named to the AP All-Pro squad on January 10. The second-year players have both been crucial for the Eagles over the last two seasons. Mitchell also had two interceptions in the loss to San Francisco.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles had two wide receivers reach over 1,000 yards this season in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but the offensive standout for many was tight end Dallas Goedert. Goedert’s veteran presence was crucial to the Eagles this year, catching 60 passes and tallying 11 total touchdowns. “[Goedert] seemed to look like the only consistent player on the offense this season,” Eastern student Jaden Knize said.
Despite the success from Goedert, Smith and Brown, it seemed the Eagles’ offense never clicked like it did during their 2024 Super Bowl run. Off years from running back Saquon Barkley, Super Bowl LIX MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts, and a banged-up offensive line led to many inconsistencies in the backfield for the Eagles.
Despite this, many fans and analysts agree that issues stemmed from offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who was fired on January 13. Patullo’s offense seemed “predictable” and “stubborn,” according to Eastern sophomore Jaden Todd. “Mentally, it was exhausting and deflating,” Todd said. The Eagles’ total offense ranked 24th in the NFL, compared to eighth in 2024, according to FOX Sports. As of January 27, a new offensive coordinator has not joined the staff.
Many issues inside the locker room seemed to slow the offense down. Speculative rumors about Brown and Jalen Hurts’ relationship were heavily talked about within the Philadelphia media. Brown was also seen on a livestream saying, “If you have me on fantasy, drop me,” after a slow start to the season. These issues have been talked about in years past as well.
On the other side of the ball, a Vic Fangio–led defense was ranked in the top ten in total defense, according to FOX Sports. With young stars like DeJean, Mitchell and rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell paired with veterans Jaelen Phillips, who was acquired via trade with the Miami Dolphins, Zack Baun, and Brandon Graham coming out of retirement, the Eagles’ defense seemed to be “the only bright spot of the season,” according to Knize.
The defense was capable of stopping both the run and the pass all year. With star linemen Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis paired at tackle and Jalyx Hunt on the edge, the Eagles have a defensive line that should terrorize offenses for years to come. Hunt also led the team in both interceptions and sacks. The highlight of the defense was Jordan Davis’s blocked kick against the Los Angeles Rams, which resulted in a captivating comeback after the Eagles were down 26–7 in the third quarter.
As everyone knows, there are three aspects to football, and special teams was a recurring liability for the Eagles. Kicker Jake Elliott struggled this season after the bye week. Dealing with multiple long snappers, it was no surprise that some of these issues may have stemmed from inconsistencies at the position. However, his kicks were crucial in some tight wins, such as the 13–12 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Elliott finished the season 22-of-29 on field goals.
The Eagles also struggled at the kick and punt returner positions. With their usual kick returner, Britain Covey, missing time with injuries, the Eagles fielded many players to fill the gap. Tank Bigsby, Jahan Dotson, and Will Shipley were the primary returners this season and struggled to help the Eagles generate good starting field position, starting inside their own 25-yard line multiple times per game.
Overall, the Eagles finished with an 11–6 record, won the NFC East for the second consecutive year, and seem to still be trending in the right direction. But as with every NFL team, when the season inevitably ends, fans immediately turn to the offseason to address gaps that need to be filled. Many agree the Eagles need to fill a hole at defensive back and that it may be time to move on from certain players.
“I think it is time to move on from Brown. He is a great player, but you can get a good trade package for him,” Rotelli said. Todd agreed and mentioned that the Eagles should target Justin Jefferson from the Vikings, whom the Eagles passed on in the 2020 Draft.
Another offensive worry is the number of players hitting the free agency market. “Dallas Goedert is entering free agency, so we need to target [Kenyon] Sadiq from Oregon to replace him,” Eastern sophomore Declan Anstock said. Anstock also said that he hopes to see changes to the offensive line. DiNardo shared similar insights. “We need to find a Lane Johnson replacement,” DiNardo said. “Kayden Proctor from Alabama would be a great fit because he is a mammoth of a human and would be a great Lane Johnson replacement.”
So, after a stressful football season, Eagles fans will be letting general manager Howie Roseman cook this offseason as they set their sights on Super Bowl LXI and hope to soar high on Broad Street once again.
