At the close of the most recent Philadelphia Eagles season, Zack Baun said he was curious to see what free agency had to offer. We can't blame him. He had never been in that position before.
He had been relegated to mostly special teams duty in the Big Easy with the New Orleans Saints. His first season in the City of Brotherly Love gifted him with almost everything an NFL star can hope for.
He earned a Pro Bowl mention and First-Team All-Pro honors. He was one of the most important cogs in Philly's run to its second Vince Lombardi Trophy.
That catapulted him to new heights, being one of the top linebackers entering the 'free agency frenzy', but alas, he had a sudden change of heart before the new league year.
Zack Baun chose to remain with the Eagles instead of leaving by way of free agency
As it turned out, Baun never tested the waters at all. Eagles fans got the news they wanted as it was announced before legal tampering and the beginning of free agency that he'd ink a three-year, $51 million contract to remain in Philadelphia. That keeps him in the nest through the 2027-28 NFL season.
It was a move that was both surprising and expected. He was, without question, Philly's top priority signing, but there was the other angle.
This team never really pays linebackers.
We've seen a change of heart though. After seeing Saquon Barkley cash in, there was hope. We could all see Eagles management was evolving, and per Baun, Philly is where he wanted to remain all along.
Philly is where Zack Baun wanted to be all along... In his words, he "didn't want to leave"... pic.twitter.com/wJqsKoN641
— Inside The Iggles (@InsideIggles) March 19, 2025
All that's left is to ask a question. What does he do for an encore? We can't wait to see him in action.
Year one produced a team-high in total (151) and solo (93) tackles during the regular season. He also tallied 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, four pass breakups, and an interception before playing his best when his best was needed during the postseason.
During Philly's four-game march to glory, he tallied a playoff-best 33 tackles to go along with two interceptions, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
It was an incredible season by an incredible player and person. He's already earned his wings, and now, he looks to build on his legacy with three more seasons in Midnight and Kelly Green.