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It’s only been nine months since the Eagles Defensive Line dominated Super Bowl LIX — pressuring quarterback Patrick Mahomes for six sacks and completely owning the Chiefs Offensive Line. It wasn’t just a performance of NFL lore — it was an audition for players like Josh Sweat and Milton Williams to sign large contracts elsewhere.
Nine months later — in the same week that former Eagles All-Pro Defensive Tackle Clyde Simmons was inducted in the 2025 Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame — the 6–2 Philadelphia Eagles began the second act of the 2025–2026 NFL Season by starting four former 1st Round Selections against the Green Bay Packers. Not even a short retirement could take away Brandon Graham’s place as the longest-tenured Eagle after having been selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. No matter what happens this season — his legacy of excellence over fifteen years —helping the Eagles to three Super Bowl appearances and winning two will always make him one of the best that this city has ever seen.
University of Georgia’s Nolan Smith returned from IR for his first game against the Packers. Smith was drafted Number 30 overall in 2023. In that same Draft — the Eagles acquired Jalen Carter with the overall 9th overall selection.
Perhaps the biggest splash before the deadline was the addition of former Miami Dolphins Edge Rusher Jaelan Phillips. In Phillips — the Eagles also get another former first-round pick from the Miami Dolphins paired along with recently un-retired Brandon Graham in exchange for a 2026 third-round Draft Pick.
And the Eagle who recovered the Josh Jacobs fumble with 1:26 remaining in the game? That was Jaelan Phillips.
Categorized: Eagles More PHL News Unique Columns
Michael Thomas Leibrandt
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