The 2022-23 Philadelphia Eagles fell short of their Super Bowl destiny, and though this year's team has many familiar faces, the offensive line has changed. For Landon Dickerson, the sole focus is on the challenges ahead as the biggest game of their lives is about to be played.
"This isn't the 2022 team, this isn't the 2023 team, this is the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles," said Dickerson, who was part of the 2022-23 team that fell just one game short of the Lombardi Trophy, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia entered the season with some questions about the offensive line, and despite initial doubts, those questions were answered by Coach Jeff Stoutland. He leaves no doubt about where the group stands as they head into Super Bowl 59 against their familiar foe. What Stoutland and others attribute to their ability to stay so consistent is the 'culture' inside the room.
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The Philadelphia Eagles mindset: Build from the trenches along the O-line.
When Eagles legend Jason Kelce announced his retirement after the 2023-24 NFL season, the immediate question was, "How will the Eagles replace him?" The answer, as the team discovered, is that you don't replace a player of Kelce's caliber—you adapt and build on the foundation that Kelce helped to create.
Stoutland and his staff worked tirelessly during the offseason and training camp to prepare the offensive line for life without their longtime leader. The key to their success? The deeply ingrained 'culture' that has become the backbone of the unit.
"There's turnover every year at every position, but I think the thing that allows the offensive line to have consistent play for years is that we have a mindset and culture in that room," Dickerson exclusively told Inside the Iggles at Super Bowl Media Week.
For Dickerson, embracing the culture in the room—often referred to as 'Jeff Stoutland University'—is non-negotiable. "When you come here and play offensive line for the Eagles, you either embrace that culture, or you're going to find yourself on a different team," he said.
That culture is defined by grit and toughness. As offensive guard Mekhi Becton said, "We're just some hard-nosed mf'ers. We don't care what the play call is, we don't care about who's in front of us, we'll do our jobs and do what we have to do."
The Stoutland Effect
Lane Johnson has as much experience as any player in the NFL. Drafted fourth overall by the Eagles in 2013, he has worked closely with Stoutland throughout his career. He describes his mentor this way: "He's like Mickey Goldmill from Rocky."
"He means everything to us," Johnson explained. "It's more of his personality. He's a hard worker. He's passionate, and he's highly detailed. He can be a character who has some fun in there—we do laugh a lot."
It's the fun aspect that resonates with the players. Stoutland's ability to keep things light, rather than having the players sit and be present for lecture-style meetings, makes a tremendous impact on the effect he has. "It's a room where everyone's sharing thoughts," Dickerson said. "We don't go in and get talked at. It's an interactive meeting. We're all sharing thoughts and discussions."
'Stoutland U' preaches toughness, versatility, and a pursuit of excellence, but the belief and support instilled in each of its players is one of the most profound aspects. "When you support somebody, they can do anything. The support goes a long way," Becton said.
Welcoming new additions with open arms
Even for those who are new to the program, it's easy to assimilate. Mekhi Becton, a former first-round pick by the New York Jets, signed with the Eagles in free agency after a challenging stint in New York. It's that same culture that opened up a whole different universe of growth for him.
"They welcome you with open arms. I feel like I've been here for a while, so once they welcome you, it's just all love from there," Becton said.
Becton, who previously played tackle, landed at guard when he started working with the offensive line in Philadelphia—a move that made sense for the team. It was a tough transition at first, Becton confirmed, but once he caught up to speed, he was a natural.
"It didn't take long for him to take off after the Green Bay game," Johnson said when asked about Becton's transition. "He's showing why he was drafted where he was—it's pretty cool to see."
While a 2-2 start at the beginning of the regular season raised some cause for concern, the offensive line—and the entire team—rallied together for the greater good and made a point to stick by each other's side. They reconvened during the Week 5 bye and came out stronger, figuring things out and turning their season around.
"Sometimes [things are tough], but I think those tough times also bring us closer as a unit," Dickerson said.
Now, the group will head into the Caesars Superdome on Sunday to take on the same Chiefs franchise they fell to just two years prior. Through the hardships, they'll be together as one and ready to do whatever it takes to hoist the Lombardi Trophy once again.