There aren't many sports towns like the City of Brotherly Love. From the Philadelphia Eagles to the Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers, Philly has a rich history in all sports, but above all, most would be willing to bet this is football country first and foremost.
You won't have a hard time arguing that the citizens of this great city love their Birds above all and that they love football more than they love any other game.
During every NFL season, the Birds' social media team will often toss the 'Eagles Everywhere' hashtag on posts. That's a tribute to the fan support Philly gets not only at Lincoln Financial Field but also when they travel to play road games.
Many say 'Birds fans travel well'. And. they do, but let's not forget those fans who live elsewhere and are still tied to Philly roots or an unconditional love that has bonded them to the players and coaches who have worn both Kelly and Midnight Green with hints of black, white, and silver.
It's every member of this kinship that takes over the opposing road team's stadium. They are why Landon Dickerson stated at the victory parade that he hasn't "played an (expletive) away game" during his "entire career".
We get out of hand sometimes, so much so that we argue with each other, but nothing beats Eagles fans. Nothing! But, they are just one reason why we should all be excited about the coming season.
Here are a few others.
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There's defensive consistency as Vic Fangio has no plans of leaving.
Philly's defensive youth movement is led by an old guy, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Now past his desire to be a head coach, he has expressed he'll be in Philly for the long haul.
In the same manner that we've discussed Jalen Hurts' need for offensive consistency, Philly's young defense also needs that. As good as they were last season, they can be even better as they continue growing in Vic's complex system. These guys are just getting started.
The Eagles' young defense can still get better despite all of the losses.
We talk about QB reps all of the time. Most don't do that when discussing defenders as much, but they need experience just as much as the offensive signal-caller. Often, people are quick to dismiss the Jalen Carters of the world as being unprepared for the NFL's grind as the did when he hit 'the rookie wall' during his first season.
In actuality, what we saw from Carter occurred because he was playing football at its highest level and simultaneously playing more football than he ever had. He had to train his mind and body for a 17-game regular season.
The light bulb came on for Carter in year two as it did for Nolan Smith. Remember? Some tried to throw the 'bust' label on him. Meanwhile, this platform has always believed in Mr. Smith.
Young guys on defense have played with a maturity that exceeds their years of experience. Look at Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Moro Ojomo, and Jalyx Hunt if you need evidence of that theory.
They're now transitioning into being the leaders in the locker room, and no one should be fearful of that. Despite Philly's losses, Fangio's unit is in good hands moving forward.
Super Bowl 59 proved Philly can dominate anyone.
Super Bowl 57 still stings, but the most recent win on football's biggest stage taught us all something (or at least it should have). This Eagles team wasn't just built to win last season. They're built for the long haul.
If they can dominate the NFL's best team of the past two seasons like they did in Super Bowl 59, they can continue winning if they maintain the focus we saw from them last season.
Howie Roseman structured this team so it can win long term. They'll get everyone's best shot, but we have no concerns about them being able to handle that. They're battle-tested, and they carry a business-first mindset.
Jalen Hurts' screensaver carried a picture of his loss in Super Bowl 59 for Heaven's sake.
Kevin Patullo has been part of this Eagles coaching staff for the entirety of Nick Sirianni's coaching era.
As was the case with Brian Johnson, Philly filled its coaching vacancy at offensive coordinator by way of an internal promotion. This after making the external hire (Kellen Moore) last season.
Kevin Patullo has been with this team since Nick Sirianni's hire in 2021. He's Nick's right-hand man and led the organization once when Coach Sirianni missed time while recovering from COVID.
Most importantly, Patullo has been in every offensive meeting with Shane Steichen, Johnson, Moore and every OC that preceded him. Though there will be some changes, we expect a smooth transition as the Birds move forward next season.
Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Nick Sirianni, and Jalen Hurts
Are you noticing a theme here? The point we're making is about stability. The Eagles have long been one of the NFL's best-run organizations, and now they have the hardware to prove it. They have appeared in three Super Bowls since February 2018, and they have won two Vince Lombardi Trophies. Credit everyone from top to bottom.
The Eagles are home to one of the NFL's best owners, Jeffrey Lurie. Howie Roseman is the best GM/vice president in the game. On the field, Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts have answered the questions that were asked about them.
Make no mistake, as we've said throughout this one, this unit is set up to win for a while. Everyone on this list deserves credit, and as long as they're around, this team will always have a chance and be a contender.
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