Saquon Barkley has long been an admirer of the wide zone run scheme. He’d study film of running backs like Todd Gurley — who thrived with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay — and think about what he might look like in an offense like that.
Now he doesn’t have to daydream.
The Eagles held their first training camp practice of 2026 on Wednesday, which means Barkley and Co. got another important taste of life under first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, whose playbook looks similar to McVay and Kyle Shanahan’s. It’s only Day 1, but the play calls were a major deviation from the inside zone-heavy Eagles offenses of the past. This was evident from the very first play, when Jalen Hurts — lined up under center — ran a stretch toss in “12″ personnel (1 running back, 2 wide receivers, 2 tight ends).
How fired up is Barkley about these changes? He spent nearly a minute lauding them after Wednesday’s practice.
“I’ve always been intrigued with this kind of system,” Barkley said. “Watching it kind of from afar and seeing a lot of guys have a lot of success in it. The thing that changes for me is we coach it a little bit different. Outside zone and wide zone, the read is pretty much the same, but just trying to get more of a one-cut mindset.
“I feel like naturally in my career, unless you are in a system like in college, most of us come from gun and playing shotgun. … You’re more natural to a duo, or to like an inside zone. Then, when you get into the NFL, you see a lot of guys struggle with outside zone in the beginning, but I’ve been working on that the whole time and just having that one-cut mentality, but still doing it in a way that I like to get out of the cut and being efficient and being aligned with the offensive line and in the play and making it work.”
Saquon Barkley’s ability to click in the running game will take pressure off Jalen Hurts (right) and the passing attack. Chris Szagola
Barkley’s excitement for a new system likely stems from his struggles (relative to his usual success) in the Eagles’ offense last season. The 29-year-old rushed for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns under OC Kevin Patullo, as the Eagles went 11-6 and lost to the 49ers in the wild-card round. This came one year after Barkley’s dream first season in Philadelphia, during which he became the ninth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 yards and logged 13 rushing touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl crown.
Of course, it’s only Day 1. Growing pains and adjustments are inevitable. But with Mannion in the mix, Barkley feels rejuvenated — even if it means “starting from scratch.”
“I think it’s pretty cool that you start it from scratch again,” Barkley said. “Learning a new language, getting familiar with a new system. It’s fun. The way you take notes is a little bit different than you would … It’s going to put you in a spot to do something new, something you may not be used to. But as a competitor, you welcome that challenge.”
The Eagles held their first practice of training camp on Wednesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations from Day 1:
Healthy Birds
The Eagles announced that outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list just before practice. He apparently strained a pectoral muscle while lifting prior to camp. Greenard isn’t expected to be out long-term, but starting him on PUP allows the team to save a roster spot if he’s going to miss more than a month in the regular season.
It’s unclear if the injury had anything to do with his recovery from December shoulder surgery. Greenard didn’t practice much in the spring after he was acquired via trade during the draft. He’s learning a new defense, but he’s been around the block a few times and shouldn’t be held back once healthy.
Jonathan Greenard (right) was present on Wednesday but will remain sidelined indefinitely with a pectoral injury. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Eagles were otherwise full-go. I don’t recall them being as healthy entering camp in all my years on the beat. Every player passed Tuesday’s conditioning test, as coach Nick Sirianni suggested before practice. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring) and several other players who were limited in the spring were back in action.
Campbell, by the way, switched his jersey number from 30 to 11. That should end all talk of the former Eagles wide receiver who previously wore the double ones. Right?
Positional battles
There’s really only one “starting” spot up for grabs and it technically isn’t a full-time job: safety. Cooper DeJean is expected to “start” at safety in base personnel alongside Andrew Mukuba. DeJean was there again on Wednesday. Marcus Epps filled the primary nickel role, however, with a splash of Michael Carter II at times.Those two appear to be the frontrunners. General manager Howie Roseman won’t be shy about trading for an upgrade if needed.
There are some intriguing competitions further down the depth chart. Jonathan Jones was the first cornerback up when starter Quinyon Mitchell took a breather during team drills. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon were the backup inside linebackers behind Zack Baun and Campbell.
A handful of receivers will be vying for the snaps that became available when A.J. Brown was finally traded to the Patriots. DeVonta Smith is the bona fide WR1, but new faces like Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown and Lemon, along with returnees like Darius Cooper and Johnny Wilson will be contending for playing time.
Line ’em up
The first-unit offensive line is set, but swing tackle along with a few other backup spots are up for grabs. New O-line coach Chris Kuper will work some reserve linemen at various positions to create versatility. Here’s how the units looked on Wednesday:
A few notes:
Jordan is new after the Eagles signed the veteran guard at the conclusion of minicamp in June. Bell was back in the lineup after sitting out the last day of minicamp. He and Fred Johnson are presumably battling for the swing tackle role, although Kuper could have both active on game days. Hollin Pierce and Jaeden Roberts were with the third unit at left tackle and left guard, respectively, during the period for developmental players.
Mannion mirror
New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion continued to implement many of the concepts we saw from the Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay scheme he brought to the Eagles in the spring: a lot of under center sets, play-action and motion. I’d estimate that more than half of the plays came with the quarterbacks lined up under center.
Jalen Hurts continued to learn the intricacies of the new offense on Wednesday. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Jalen Hurts has improved from under center since entering the NFL, but he hasn’t done much of it, at least compared to rest of the league. There will be more of him turning his back to the defense on play action and naked bootlegs. An early awkward pass across Hurts’ body to Lemon illustrated that there will be some growing pains.
Hurts to be…
There will be an adjustment period for all involved, but mostly Hurts. He’s endured other previous changes in play-calling and scheme with varying results. The offense wasn’t sharp during the spring practices open to reporters. That came as little surprise, and neither should struggles during the summer.
Hurts’ first pass of camp was a wobbler to Wicks that Mitchell nearly intercepted. But he had some strong moments in the later team portions with good ball placement on a toss to Wicks with cornerback Riq Woolen in coverage and a strike to a crossing Smith just over Mitchell.
The catch of the day came during seven-on-sevens when Hurts hooked up with Cooper. The receiver got behind DeJean out of the slot and made a diving grab over the middle.
Saquon Barkley’s ability to adapt to the wide-zone blocking scheme will be worth watching. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Run it back
The Eagles won’t be in full pads until the fifth practice of camp on Tuesday, but they were able to incorporate more of the run game into team drills. Some of the biggest changes on offense will come with the move to more wide-zone blocking. Lane Johnson said the new system is “O-line friendly” and should theoretically place less stress on the group in pass blocking situations.
Running back Saquon Barkley took the first handoff of camp and ran behind Johnson off tackle. He was met near the line of scrimmage by Baun on his next carry. Backup Tank Bigsby’s first touch came on a rush up the middle after Steen climbed to the second level. Could we see more of Bigsby as the inside complement to Barkley this season?
Hunting season
Greenard’s absence pushed Jalyx Hunt into the starting spot at right outside linebacker opposite Nolan Smith Jr. Hunt will likely play as many snaps as the other two this season. There’s an argument to be made that he should get more playing time than Smith. Nevertheless, he took advantage of his opportunities with Greenard out.
Hunt shot into the backfield unblocked and forced Hurts to check down to Cooper on one play-action pass that came from under center. He blew up tight end Dallas Goedert with an edge rush and Hurts had to hurry a dump to Bigsby that wasn’t caught. And he beat Jordan Mailata on back-to-back rushes — one with an inside move and the other from the outside — that blew up pass plays.
Dallas Goedert (right) rebounded from an early drop in Wednesday’s practice. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Sloppy go droppy
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio enters his third season at the helm with little turnover on his side of the ball. He’s always evolving and will introduce new ideas, but the core of his unit remains intact. The defense should have the upper hand in competitive periods, especially with the offense still ironing out details.
Mannion’s unit had a couple of false starts from Mailata and Landon Dickerson. Brown lined up illegally at one point. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, fresh off his contract extension, was flagged for offsides at one point. He slipped by Steen for a would-be tackle of Barkley in the backfield earlier in the session.
Goedert dropped an early pass, but rebounded later on a short crossing route. Hurts and Barkley had a miscommunication on a botched handoff.
Andy Dalton (14) is vying for the No. 2 quarterback job. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Back it up
Quarterbacks Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton continued to split second unit snaps, much as they did in the spring. McKee’s first completion during seven-on-sevens went to rookie tight end Eli Stowers. Dalton hit Wilson over the middle with a pass only the 6-foot-6 receiver could reach.
Trotter had a couple of run stops, one time seemingly filling a gap out of nowhere to stop Bigsby in his tracks. Former Texans running back Dameon Pierce was relatively quiet in the spring, but he had a nice cutback on an inside rush.
Extra points
Rookie quarterback Cole Payton had his ups and downs in the spring, but he continued to display a willingness to throw downfield a month later. He ripped a pass to receiver Quez Watkins during seven-on-sevens, and found receiver Britain Covey on a deep corner route. … Second-year defensive tackle Ty Robinson was relegated to snaps during the developmental period. Not a good sign. … Lemon fielded punts behind Covey and Elijah Moore. … The Eagles return Thursday for practice and will have a closed-to-reporters walkthrough on Friday.
Nick Sirianni opened his team meeting on Tuesday with a message about the importance of the team sticking together and staying aligned, according to Jalen Hurts.
The Eagles head coach’s words compelled Hurts to jot down a phrase in his notebook, one that resonated with his own philosophy on how he seeks to build relationships with his teammates.
“100% alignment and zero entitlement,” Hurts recalled on Wednesday.
Hurts is bringing that mantra to life beyond the pages of his notebook. The sixth-year starting quarterback explained he has emphasized that approach ahead of camp with his teammates, a new-look group that is in the process of implementing a fresh offensive scheme under Sean Mannion.
A new-look group that, as of two months ago, no longer includes A.J. Brown, a former key piece of the Eagles’ passing attack.
In Hurts’ opening statement before taking questions at his news conference after the first practice of training camp, he outlined his own message of togetherness to his teammates, one that closely aligned with Sirianni’s.
“I’d say one of my main points coming in, especially talking to my teammates and getting a sense of where we are throughout the summer and where we’re going is just the importance of discipline and unity,” Hurts said. “And I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to carry and protect the intimacy of this team and what we do because it takes all of us, and we know that there are challenges that come throughout a year.”
Last year’s challenges, particularly on offense, are well-documented. The offense, which finished 23rd in the league in passing yards and 18th in rushing yards, never quite found its identity. Brown went public with his frustrations about the offense and his utilization within it, both in public comments and via social media, and was traded to the New England Patriots six months after the season ended.
Rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon (9) has sought to forge an early bond with quarterback Jalen Hurts. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
New challenges await Hurts, who is tasked with adjusting to yet another offensive play-caller and a new scheme. He has plenty of new faces among his receiving corps, too, in Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown.
But Hurts isn’t just preaching the importance of togetherness as he helps onboard his new teammates ahead of the new season. He’s living it, too, by spending time away from the facility with members of the offense this summer. Among the players he practiced with this offseason was Lemon, the Eagles’ first-rounder out of USC.
“I see his heart and I see his hunger,” Hurts said of the rookie receiver.
Hurts noted that he was playing in the NFL when Lemon was in high school back in 2022. While Hurts is in a self-described “vet role” as he answers Lemon’s questions, he acknowledged that he is also learning the new offense alongside the rookie.
“We’re both learning something new, onboarding something new, and we want to be able to own it and say it’s ours and we’re growing in that,” Hurts said. “So we’re growing together.”
Hurts noted the importance of kickstarting that growth in the summer with his receivers, as those offseason practice sessions are a “reflection of what comes in the season.”
“I think it was really good to have everybody all in on it, going into this offseason, and have everybody expressing and showing that hunger to build and learn each other’s personalities a bit, so we can go out there and thrive on the field,” Hurts said. “So I was definitely excited about that, and I think it’ll pay forward. The work will show.”
“Jalen is willing and able to do whatever we ask him to do,” running back Saquon Barkley said on Wednesday. Chris Szagola
Hurts and the rest of the offense had the opportunity to show the fruits of their offseason work on the first day of training camp. While the offense may experience some growing pains in a new scheme, Nick Sirianni said that the “standard remains the standard” as far as his evaluation of his players, Hurts included.
The offense displayed some of those new wrinkles on Day 1, including the increased frequency of Hurts lining up under center, the emphasis on the play-action passing game, and the utilization of pre-snap motion. Hurts, according to Saquon Barkley, has embraced all of the intricacies of the offense.
“Jalen is willing and able to do whatever we ask him to do,” Barkley said. “And he has that competitive mindset of just wanting to be great and doing whatever it takes to win. But also always trying to find ways to improve his game. And he’s doing that. It’s Day 1 and we’ve only had OTAs and we’ll all just keep getting better and better.”
While the scheme may change, Hurts’ approach to training camp remains the same. He said that every summer, he strives to get on the same page with his offensive coordinator and his teammates.
“I’m always seeking alignment, and I think with different pieces that come and go, it can make that challenging or it can make it easier,” Hurts said.
Once alignment is achieved, Hurts will aim to make the most of the tools at his disposal, he explained.
“At the end of the day, the goal is to go out there and win,” Hurts said. “So we’ve got to prepare ourselves to be able to do that.”
Jordan Davis stood near the back of the media tent Wednesday afternoon with a slight smile on his face. Jalen Carter was sitting at the podium, answering questions a day after the Eagles made him the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in NFL history. Four months earlier, the roles were reversed.
Carter was inside the auditorium at the Jefferson Health Training Complex when the Eagles held a press conference a few days after signing Davis to a $78 million extension.
“He told me I was next up and I’m here right now,” Carter said.
The Eagles invested $230 million this offseason on the former Georgia teammates they drafted in the first round in consecutive seasons, Davis in 2022 and Carter in 2023. There probably was a stretch of time when the idea of both being here together until at least 2029 was wishful thinking. Davis didn’t shed his label as an out-of-shape first-round bust until his breakout 2025 season. And Carter, who was dominant during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run in 2024, took a step back in 2025 while being limited due to shoulder injuries.
But the Eagles, Howie Roseman said, wanted to make sure the interior defensive line continued to be a strength of their team. It’s a “deficient position,” Roseman said. “It’s hard to find guys like that.”
General manager Howie Roseman had his eye on the future when he inked Jalen Carter’s extension. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Linebacker Zack Baun and Roseman crossed paths Tuesday after the Eagles and Carter completed their deal. Baun, Roseman said, told the general manager that someone told him after he signed his $51 million deal with the Eagles that “you don’t pay me for what I did, you’re paying me for what I’m going to do.”
“That’s why we do these deals,” Roseman said Wednesday before the Eagles took the field for their first practice of training camp. “We don’t do anything based on retroactive performance, we’re doing things based on future performance.”
The Eagles aren’t concerned about Carter’s shoulders, which required injections so he could finish the 2025 season. While negotiations played out, Carter said he let his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and his mother, Toni Brown, figure out the contract while he focused on his body. He worked closely with Julian Allen at Hybrid Performance in Turnersville to build his strength back. Nick Sirianni credited Carter for coming into camp in “phenomenal shape” while the contract situation loomed over his head in the offseason.
Roseman disagreed with a Sports Illustrated report that said the Eagles were hesitant to sign Carter when asked about it Wednesday. The Eagles normally like to re-sign players in March and April — Davis signed his deal in March — but called Carter’s situation “unique.” Roseman said the defensive tackle market was “in transition” during that timeline. Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons helped reset the market, and Dexter Lawrence was extended by Cincinnati following his trade.
The Eagles’ actions show they feel Carter is better than both, and much closer to the player they watched in 2024 and not 2025, when his pressure rate dropped from 8.9% to 7.7%.
Jalen Carter’s production dipped in 2025, with injury a root cause. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
“This was a unique situation,” Roseman said. “By the same token, getting this done before camp was important for all of us. Good things happen when you get things off your plate and you’re able to focus on football.”
Carter’s tenure with the Eagles has not been without drama. He has been flagged for multiple personal fouls, including an ejection from last season’s opener after Carter was caught spitting at Dak Prescott before the first snap of the game. He has struggled with conditioning issues at times. He also entered the NFL after being booked on reckless driving and racing charges stemming from a 2023 incident that resulted in the deaths of a Georgia football player and staff member.
“Since Jalen’s been here, he’s put his head down, he’s worked hard, he’s made huge, impact plays for this organization, for this team,” Roseman said. “Like anyone, when you’re 25 years old you’re still growing as a person and a player.”
Carter called the contract “a reflection of the trust that the coaches, the players, the organization has in me. I’m very thankful for that.”
He said becoming the highest-paid defensive tackle wasn’t important to the process for him. It was important to stay with the Eagles, he said.
Carter listed some of the people in the building that helped him reach the new deal; among them was Davis, who hosted Carter on his visit to Georgia and has become “like an older brother to me,” Carter said.
Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis embrace in March after Davis signed his extension with the Eagles.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Davis said “the sky is the limit” for Carter, and expressed pride in watching Carter grow as a player and person over the last few years.
“Coming into the league, it’s a learning process,” Davis said. “You have to learn how to be a professional. You have to learn how to navigate things, how to navigate problems that we didn’t have in college, that we didn’t have in high school.”
They have done it all together, a process that will continue for at least a few more years.
“It’s a blessing to work with him for a couple more years,” Carter said. “I’m just happy I can stay here and be with the guys that I grew up with.”
The Eagles received some unfortunate injury news to kick off training camp.
The team announced Wednesday that linebacker Jonathan Greenard is being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP). Greenard, 31, suffered a pectoral strain while lifting before training camp, which began Wednesday. The team noted that the injury is “not expected” to be a long-term concern.
General manager Howie Roseman spoke about the injury prior to Wednesday’s training camp practice.
“One of the things we know about Greenard, he’s going to be ready to play,” Roseman said. “He’s going to be ready to play when we start the season. … This is nothing we’re concerned about.”
Greenard was limited to 12 games with the Minnesota Vikings last season due to a left shoulder injury. He had surgery this past offseason.
This is a blow to an Eagles edge rusher group that was banking on Greenard topping the depth chart. After Jaelan Phillips signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, the Eagles traded third-round picks in 2026 and 2027 for Greenard on April 24. He then signed a four-year, $100 million contract that includes $50 million guaranteed.
The two returning edge rushers in the rotation are Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr., who are now set to get increased reps in training camp.
Ex-Atlanta Falcon Arnold Ebiketie signed a one-year deal worth more than $7 million this offseason and will also factor into the rotation. Former Buffalo Bill A.J. Epenesa, rookie seventh-round pick Keyshawn James-Newby, and Jose Ramirez are also fighting for reps at the position.
Jalen Hurts drives a golf cart during the first day of Training Camp.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerRookie guard Micah Morris carries Rita’s for his teammates.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerLinebacker Zack Baun signs an autograph for Santa.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerRookie linebacker Deontae Lawson carries his teammates helmets.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerNew backup quarterback Andy Dalton takes the field. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/29/26 12:58pm
‘It’s huge’: Jalen Hurts on LeBron James coming to Philly
Jalen Hurts on LeBron James joining the Sixers: "I think for what he represents in sports and sports culture, it's huge, and I think it's huge for the city of Philadelphia. So it'll be exciting to have a figure like that in the city. What he's done, one of the greatest to ever do… pic.twitter.com/ZhW3EfTu1N
Jalen Carter got paid by the Eagles… and Jalen Hurts
"I took that five-dollar bill, and I went and gave it to Jalen Carter, and I smacked it on his chest, and I said, 'Let me put five on top of that.'" 😂 pic.twitter.com/C9o7dzcUIi
Jalen Hurts on being intentional about the team coming together and being on the same page, off of Nick Sirianni’s team meeting yesterday: “100 percent alignment, zero percent entitlement.”
Eagles players work out during the first day of training camp at the Jefferson Health Training Complex Wednesday. Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerJalen Hurts takes the field ahead of his sixth season as the Eagles’ starting quarterback. Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles players warm up. The team’s first preseason game is Aug. 15. Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with players.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/29/26 11:34am
Lane Johnson praises new offense as less predictable
Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson speaks with reporters.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Following the Eagles first practice, veteran Lane Johnson praised the new offense under new coordinator Sean Mannion.
“What I like is everything looks very complex to the defense. To the offense it’s pretty simplified,” Johnson told reporters. “It’s very O-line friendly compared to maybe some past years.”
“A lot of its under center,” Johnson added, “So as far as defenses being able to pic up on reads, I believe it’s more difficult.”
Andy Dalton is today’s No. 2 QB. Tanner McKee just stepped in with the 3s. Nick Sirianni wasn’t interested in labeling anything before practice started.
Howie Roseman not concerned about Jonathan Greenard injury
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman speaks to reporters ahead of the team’s first practice. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Ahead of the Eagles’ first practice of training camp, general manager Howie Roseman said he wasn’t concerned about Jonathan Greenard’s long-term health.
“One of the things we know about Greenard, he’s going to be ready to play,” Roseman said. “He’s going to be ready to play when we start the season… This is nothing we’re concerned about.”
Eagles have options on Greenard injury, including Brandon Graham
#Eagles don’t believe Greenard’s injury will keep him out long term, but it gives them the ability to save a roster spot if it extends into the regular season.
Perhaps it compels them to get Brandon Graham into camp, but that isn’t my sense right now. https://t.co/fHGbo7T1Mw
Watch: Nick Sirianni speaks to reporters ahead of first practice
// Timestamp 07/29/26 9:10am
New Eagles LB Jonathan Greenard out with injury
The Eagles traded two draft picks for Jonathan Greenard in April.David Dermer
Eagles training camp is not off to the best start.
Ahead of their first training camp practice on Wednesday, the team revealed that outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard is being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP) due to a pectoral strain sustained while lifting before camp. It is not expected to be a long-term concern.
The Eagles traded third-round picks in 2026 and 2027 for Greenard on April 24. He then signed a four-year, $100 million contract with $50 million guaranteed.
Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell is moving on from No. 30.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
There’s a new No. 11 in town.
The number formerly worn by A.J. Brown now belongs to second-year linebacker Jihaad Campbell, the Eagles announced Tuesday night on the eve of the team’s first practice of training camp.
Campbell wore the number during his final season at Alabama, but it obviously was taken when the Eagles drafted him in the first round in 2025. He wore No. 30 during his rookie season.
Campbell is embarking on his second NFL training camp this week. The runway has been cleared for him to assume a starting off-ball linebacker job next to Zack Baun after Nakobe Dean departed in free agency. Campbell had a second shoulder surgery in as many years following his rookie season and missed most of the offseason program.
Brown, meanwhile, is already a few days into his first camp with New England. He is now wearing the No. 1.
Linebacker Jonathan Greenard speaks with reporters during mini-camp last month.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Eagles’ biggest splash of the offseason came during a draft weekend trade for Jonathan Greenard.
The Eagles acquired the 29-year-old edge rusher and a seventh-round pick in exchange for two third-round picks. Greenard was limited by injury and had three sacks in 12 games last season, but had 12 sacks in each of the previous two seasons.
Greenard subsequently signed a four-year, $98 million deal with the Eagles. Another addition to that position is Arnold Ebiketie, who signed a one-year deal.
It was a relatively quiet free agency period for the Eagles, but they did land former Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen on a one-year deal worth at least $12 million. Woolen, 27, thrived in man coverage last season, and the Eagles plan to have him on the field at all times, hence DeJean playing safety in the base defense. They also signed veteran corner Jonathan Jones.
Replacing A.J. Brown won’t be easy, but the Eagles gave themselves some options before they reached draft weekend in Hollywood Brown (free agency) and Dontavion Wicks (trade).
Other newcomers on offense include blocking tight end Johnny Mundt and backup quarterback Andy Dalton.
Marcus Epps will face competition to land the safety spot being vacated by Cooper DeJeanYONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Safety is one of the few spots on the field where a starter is written in pencil and not pen.
If you’ve been paying any attention to the Eagles since the spring, you know that Cooper DeJean is slated to move from nickel to safety in base defense. But the Eagles, like most NFL defenses, use nickel and dime packages much more often than base. So the spot next to Andrew Mukuba mostly will be manned by someone not named DeJean.
Vic Fangio indicated that Marcus Epps is in the pole position for the job to replace Reed Blankenship, but the 30-year-old will have to earn it. There will be competition from converted nickel Michael Carter II, seventh-round pick Cole Wisniewski, veteran special teamer J.T. Gray, and long shots like Andre’ Sam, Kapena Gushiken, and Maximus Pulley.
Don’t count out another roster addition, too, if Howie Roseman decides the Eagles need to upgrade the safety spot.
What’s the vision for Andy Dalton (left) as the depth chart stacks up behind Jalen Hurts?Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The Eagles have a quarterback controversy. Sort of.
Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee alternated reps with the second-team offense during the offseason program, and it’s unclear which is the preferred backup to Jalen Hurts.
The team also drafted Cole Payton in the fifth round, and it seems pretty unlikely they make room for four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster given the talent elsewhere.
So, what gives?
The Eagles would love to find a trade partner for McKee, who is entering the final year of his contract. But if they can’t, does that put Dalton in jeopardy of being cut (or traded)? Payton is a bit of an unknown, but he has an intriguing athletic profile, and while the Eagles cut a sixth-round draft pick last year (Kyle McCord), they probably would be hesitant to expose Payton to waivers given his traits. Otherwise, maybe he joins Clayton Thorson as a recent fifth-round pick who hits the chopping block.
A first look at new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion
Jeff Lurie and Howie Roseman speak with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s firing started the offseason. The Eagles took a big step back offensively last season and the first-year coordinator essentially fell on the sword. There were issues beyond scheme and play-calling. The offensive line wasn’t as healthy, Jalen Hurts was inconsistent at times, and Saquon Barkley wasn’t as effective behind a banged up line.
But Patullo’s replacement, 34-year-old Sean Mannion, is slated to bring changes to the offense, especially when it comes to run-blocking schemes and Hurts taking snaps from under center and utilizing play-action passes.
Mannion, who was Green Bay’s quarterbacks coach last season, isn’t the only notable new face on offense. Longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is no longer with the team, and new position coach Chris Kuper is in charge of teaching and deploying those new blocking strategies.
Other new coaches on offense include Josh Grizzard (pass game coordinator), Ryan Mahaffey (run game coordinator/tight ends), Jerrod Johnson (senior offensive assistant). Parks Frazier, last season’s pass game coordinator, is now the quarterbacks coach.
On defense, Vic Fangio lost defensive backs coach Christian Parker, who is the new coordinator in Dallas. The Eagles promoted Joe Kasper to take over Parker’s defensive pass game coordinator duties and hired Roy Anderson (cornerbacks) and Mike Pellegrino (secondary).
An Eagles fan holds his helmet for an autograph at the team’s open practice in 2025.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
For the fourth-straight year, the Eagles will hold just one open practice to fan.
This year’s open practice at Lincoln Financial Field will take place on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. The Eagles are charging $15.40 a ticket, up from $10.25 last year, with proceeds going to autism research. At least parking is free.
Saquon Barkley isn’t just a champion on the field. On Wednesday, Jefferson Health announced that he will be the new face of its “Champions of Care” campaign, bringing the running back’s impact out of the stadium and into the community.
Barkley has a history of nonprofit work. Jefferson Health is partnering with The Michael Ann & Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation, a nonprofit the Barkley family founded in 2020. (Michael Ann was Saquon’s late grandmother.) Together the organizations plan to support underserved youth in the community through events like a backpack drive, as well as food and holiday gift drives.
“Saquon Barkley is a leader both on and off the field — someone whose work ethic, humility, and connection to this city inspire people far beyond the stadium. That’s why we’re so proud to welcome him as a Jefferson brand ambassador,” said Nick Ragone, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Jefferson.
“Together, we will work to fulfill our mission of improving lives across the Greater Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley regions. Just as sports have the unique power to unite our city, this partnership will help us build a healthier, more connected community.”
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley during an event for the Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation in November.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Jefferson Health has been a major partner of the Eagles since 2024. Earlier this year it expanded its multiyear partnership and renamed the Eagles’ training facility in South Philadelphia to the Jefferson Health Training Complex.
Barkley is not alone in this endeavor. He and Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham plan to make public appearances as ambassadors throughout the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, potentially including the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic golf tournament, running Sept. 28-Oct. 4. The Classic also supports the Eagles Autism Foundation, with the team’s philanthropic efforts serving as a central pillar of its identity, and a motivation for Barkley to join the Champions of Care campaign.
“While everybody sees what my teammates and I accomplish during games, it’s just as important to have partners off the field that help make a difference for the communities around you,” Barkley said in a statement. “Teaming up with Jefferson as a ‘Champion of Care’ not only aligns with the mission of the Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation but will make a tangible difference in the lives that we serve. I could not be prouder to join this team.”
The Eagles reported to training camp Tuesday and hit the field Wednesday for their first official workout of the 2026 season.
The Sean Mannion era is here, the A.J. Brown era is over, and Nick Sirianni’s sixth training camp is underway as the Eagles again have a roster capable of making a deep playoff run.
Good teams like theirs mean fewer opportunities to get on the initial 53-man roster, which means there will be plenty of competition in camp. And while most of the starting jobs are spoken for, this Eagles training camp still has its share of intriguing position battles to pay attention to.
Here’s a closer look at six of them:
It’s Marcus Epps’ (right) job to lose at safety, but he’ll be pushed. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Safety: Will Marcus Epps hold off the field?
It’s worth starting with safety because it’s one of the few spots on the field where a starter is written in pencil and not pen.
If you’ve been paying any attention to the Eagles since the spring, you know that Cooper DeJean is slated to move from nickel to safety in base defense. But the Eagles, like most NFL defenses, use nickel and dime packages much more often than base. So the spot next to Andrew Mukuba mostly will be manned by someone not named DeJean.
Vic Fangio indicated that Marcus Epps is in the pole position for the job to replace Reed Blankenship, but the 30-year-old will have to earn it. There will be competition from converted nickel Michael Carter II, seventh-round pick Cole Wisniewski, veteran special teamer J.T. Gray, and long shots like Andre’ Sam, Kapena Gushiken, and Maximus Pulley.
Don’t count out another roster addition, too, if Howie Roseman decides the Eagles need to upgrade the safety spot.
The progress of Hollywood Brown (0) in training camp figures to have an impact on the wide receiver depth chart. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Wide receiver: Who gets the final spots?
The top of the depth chart is basically set. Life after Brown means DeVonta Smith is WR1, but the order behind him needs some sorting out.
The Eagles were in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) nearly 60% of the time in 2025. There’s a new coordinator in town, and the Packers were slightly below the Eagles in that type of usage, but expect some of the same in 2026.
Who joins Smith on the field in three-receiver sets? In a perfect world, the Eagles would want Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon to get the bulk of those reps, but Hollywood Brown was brought in to be a vertical threat and should force his way onto the field. Those personnel packages will work themselves out.
Smith, Lemon, Wicks, and Brown are locks. It’s beyond them where the real training-camp battling begins.
Will the Eagles keep five receivers or six? Sirianni loves the “dirty work” Darius Cooper and Johnny Wilson do, but is keeping them both redundant? Can Elijah Moore prove he’s worth keeping around? Britain Covey, meanwhile, still wants to show he’s the best kick-returning option in camp.
What’s the vision for Andy Dalton (left) as the depth chart stacks up behind Jalen Hurts?Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Quarterback: Will Andy Dalton or Tanner McKee back up Jalen Hurts?
The Eagles have a quarterback controversy. Sort of.
Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee alternated reps with the second-team offense during the offseason program, and it’s unclear which is the preferred backup to Jalen Hurts.
The team also drafted Cole Payton in the fifth round, and it seems pretty unlikely they make room for four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster given the talent elsewhere.
So, what gives?
The Eagles would love to find a trade partner for McKee, who is entering the final year of his contract. But if they can’t, does that put Dalton in jeopardy of being cut (or traded)? Payton is a bit of an unknown, but he has an intriguing athletic profile, and while the Eagles cut a sixth-round draft pick last year (Kyle McCord), they probably would be hesitant to expose Payton to waivers given his traits. Otherwise, maybe he joins Clayton Thorson as a recent fifth-round pick who hits the chopping block.
Third-round tackle Markel Bell has a chance to make an immediate impact. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Swing tackle: Can rookie Markel Bell supplant Fred Johnson?
Considering how much time Lane Johnson missed last season, and Jordan Mailata’s stint on injured reserve in 2024, the swing tackle is a pretty important job.
The Eagles brought back Fred Johnson in free agency because they know how important the backup tackle position is. They then used a third-round pick on Markel Bell, the 6-foot-9 tackle out of Miami. It was a bit surprising the Eagles waited until the 68th pick to select a tackle, but they like Bell a lot, and the big man has plenty of upside.
Which tackle will be first up if Lane Johnson or Mailata misses time? It was Bell who got the first nod filling in for Lane Johnson during OTAs, but Bell missed the final minicamp workout of the spring due to an undisclosed injury.
Who will emerge from camp as the preferred option?
A.J. Epenesa was a solid edge contributor on a generally strong Bills defense in recent years. Gary McCullough
Edge rusher: Will A.J. Epenesa show his worth?
This group is pretty similar to wide receiver. The Eagles are set at the top. It’s Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, and Nolan Smith Jr. Sure, there’s some interest in which of Hunt or Smith gets more snaps, but the top three edge rushers will see plenty of the field.
Behind them is where it gets interesting. Arnold Ebiketie signed a deal that could be worth around $7 million and is the clear No. 4 as camp begins.
Will the Eagles keep five or six here? They kept five last year and six the year prior in Fangio’s first season.
The Eagles made an interesting signing at the end of the offseason program in June, agreeing to a one-year deal with A.J. Epenesa.
Epenesa’s sack total fell from six in 2024 to just 2½ last season, but he had a better pressure rate (10.6%) in a reduced role with the Bills. He is the biggest edge rusher in the building by 2 inches at 6-6, a size that could be useful in helping set the edge against the run.
Epenesa will be in competition with seventh-round pick Keyshawn James-Newby, an undersized but speedy edge, as well as Jose Ramirez. The Eagles also have Joshua Weru, an International Pathway Player, in camp.
Kelee Ringo (left) is among those seeking a corner job. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Cornerback: Can the Eagles find a trade partner for a bottom-of-the-depth-chart corner?
The Eagles could have the best cornerback trio in the NFL this season in Quinyon Mitchell, DeJean (nickel), and Riq Woolen, but behind them at corner are jobs up for grabs.
Veteran free-agent signing Jonathan Jones probably is a lock to take a roster spot given his 10 years of experience and inside-out versatility. Who claims the remaining spots will be determined in part by how many corners the Eagles decide to keep. They kept six last year, but could a player at a different position — like reserving a roster spot for defensive tackle Uar Bernard to not expose him to waivers — force them to go with five?
That would leave one spot for Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, and Mac McWilliams.
Ringo probably would be the preferred candidate there given his special-teams talent. The Eagles could also keep six and have spots for two of them.
It’s also possible that Roseman finds himself looking to offload one of them via trade in August.
Fullback: Is it 1996? The Eagles may have a fullback competition in camp between Carson Steele and Cameron Latu. Latu is listed as a tight end, but he’s more of an H back who blocks well and plays special teams.
Interior offensive line: Who would be first in line to back up Landon Dickerson or Tyler Steen? Right now, it’s probably Drew Kendall, who also is the backup center. After that, veteran guard Michael Jordan will try to edge out a group that includes sixth-round pick Micah Morris. Keep an eye on Myles Hinton, too. The second-year lineman took some reps at guard after entering the league as a tackle. The back end of the offensive-line group will be a fun battle to track.
Tight end: Dallas Goedert and second-round pick Eli Stowers are locks. Johnny Mundt’s blocking skills should lock him up a spot, too. With that in mind, it’s hard to imagine Grant Calcaterra, intriguing UDFA Dae’Quan Wright, or Stone Smartt earning a job, especially given the aforementioned skills that Latu brings to the table.
Eagles rookies and veterans reported to training camp on Tuesday ahead of the first practice on Wednesday.
It was a busy offseason for the Birds, from wide receiver A.J. Brown being traded to the New England Patriots to the hiring of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, the drafting of wide receiver Makai Lemon, and lots of debate about where Jalen Hurts ranks among NFL quarterbacks.
Here’s what fans and analysts are saying about the Eagles ahead of training camp’s official start:
Hurts has something to prove
Hurts and the offense had their first taste of the new offensive scheme during the June’s minicamp, but a lot has happened since then.
When ESPN asked league executives, coaches, and scouts to rank NFL players, Hurts failed to make the top 10 for quarterbacks. This only led to more discourse surrounding Hurts and his place alongside the league’s quarterbacks, which has put a lot of attention on him and how he will look during training camp.
On ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike radio show, NFL analyst and former player Jason McCourty criticized the conversations surrounding Hurts’ skill set.
“Not only was he a Super Bowl MVP, the year they lost the Super Bowl, he was the runner-up to the MVP, to Patrick Mahomes,” McCourty said. “He’s done some amazing things in our league, and he continues to, like Nick Sirianni, just win games, but all we talk about with Jalen Hurts is what he can’t do.”
Hurts also was ranked 56th on Jeremy Bergman’s list of top 100 players for NFL.com. This is Hurts’ lowest ranking since he debuted on the list in 2023. The only other Eagle on the list from Nos. 100 to 47 (the full list will be revealed Sept. 4) was cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who was 47th.
If Hurts can take a step forward this season — while navigating a new offense and the attention surrounding Brown’s trade and DeVonta Smith’s adjustment to being the top receiving option — his stock will rise, McCourty said Tuesday on ESPN’s Get Up.
Brown’s lingering presence
While he physically is at New England’s training camp, Brown remains be a huge presence at the Eagles’ camp at the Jefferson Health Training Complex in South Philly.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen ranked Brown being dealt to the Patriots on June 1 as the second-most-impactful move of the offseason, behind Myles Garrett’s move to the Los Angeles Rams.
Bowen wrote that the trade, along with the signing of Romeo Doubs, “elevated a Patriots WR room that lacked impact ability last season,” but the bigger question for the Birds is how they’ll fare without Brown.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown was traded to the New England Patriots in June.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
With Smith seemingly poised for a much bigger role, NFL writer Kimberley Martin took to Get Up to share her expectations for Smith’s ability to replace Brown’s production.
“As far as his mindset, the team’s mindset, yes, will they miss the production of A.J. Brown, of course, you have to account for that, but no one feels like DeVonta Smith is not that dude as well,” Martin said.
Jalen Carter’s signing
While much of the pre-training camp conversation has focused on the offense, Vic Fangio’s defense had some questions surrounding it regarding defensive tackle Jalen Carter and where he stands with the Eagles — until Tuesday.
The contract uncertainties surrounding Carter were expected to be a major storyline entering training camp, especially after he didn’t participate in team exercises during minicamp in June. But now, the Eagles are kicking off training camp with this resolved.
After ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news, Pat McAfee commended the Eagles and Carter for getting this deal done and noted Carter’s ability to “take over any game.”
“He fits in immediately,” McAfee said on his show. “He’s a game wrecker. Now he’s getting rewarded.”
BREAKING NEWS: The Philadelphia Eagles are signing Jalen Carter to a four-year, $152M extension worth up to $160M..
Jayson Werth was sleeping on his couch when Pat Gillick called him in the winter of 2006. Zack Wheeler is one of the best pitchers in baseball yet wasn’t the highest-paid pitcher in his free-agent class.
If we’re talking about the best signings in Philadelphia sports history then Werth — a flier who became an essential piece of a great Phillies era — and Wheeler — an underpaid pitcher who should’ve won two Cy Young Awards — would have a case. But that’s not this list.
These are the 10 players whose arrival to Philadelphia via trade or free agency made you stop in your tracks, text your group chats, and blast sports talk radio as if it was your favorite song. These are the acquisitions that felt like championships. Would anyone have been opposed if the Sixers dropped a banner last week that said “We Signed LeBron?”
Here’s a list of 10 players (including LeBron James) who brought Philadelphia to a halt in the last 50 years simply by coming here.
Honorable mentions: Jeremy Roenick, A.J. Brown, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Peter Forsberg, Ricky Watters, Paul Coffey, Lance Parrish.
Saquon Barkley smiles while meeting with the local media during an introductory news conference in March 2024.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
10. Saquon Barkley, 2024
It’s easy to forget now but this move was met by some with trepidation: Why did the Eagles pay for a running back? How much does Barkley have left? Those questions were soon dismissed and the fanfare around the trade only grew that summer when John Mara said he would lose sleep if Barkley was an Eagle. Then, Barkley scored three times against Green Bay to open a special season. There was never a reason to have angst.
Jim Thome hit 89 home runs in his first two seasons with the Phillies.
9. Jim Thome, 2002
How important was it to land Jim Thome? Even Johnny Doc got involved. The Phillies were a season away from opening Citizens Bank Park and needed a big name to drum up interest in a franchise that hadn’t done much since 1993. Enter Thome. The Phillies blew him away with an offer that Cleveland could not match. The Phils were suddenly relevant again.
Cliff Lee, being presented with his jersey during a news conference, had a 2.94 ERA in five seasons with the Phillies.Laurence Kesterson / Staff Photographer
8. Cliff Lee, 2010
The excitement felt two months earlier with the arrival of Roy Halladay was tempered by the accompanying trade of Lee to Seattle. Lee became a hero in October of 2009 when he casually dominated the Yankees in the World Series. In December, he was gone. And it was pure joy when the Phils operated in secret — they were the “Mystery Team” — and signed Lee late at night at the winter meetings. Lee’s return was doubly sweet when it was reported that he picked the Phils over a better offer from the Yankees. The Four Aces were assembled 12 days before Christmas and the Daily News headline the next morning nailed it: Merry Cliffmas.
Terrell Owens is all smiles after a September 2004 Eagles win.JERRY LODRIGUSS / Staff Photographer
7. Terrell Owens, 2004
You knew Owens’ arrival was a big deal when they lit up “WE GOT T.O.” at the top of the PECO building, which then felt like the city’s way to celebrate big events. It took 12 days for the Eagles to land Owens, who had agreed to a deal with the Eagles before the 49ers traded him to Baltimore after his agent missed the deadline to void the final years of his contract and make him a free agent. A hearing was held at Penn where lawyers from the NFL and NFLPA argued if Owens should have been granted free agency. The parties agreed on a settlement: a three-way trade between the Eagles, 49ers, and Ravens that brought Owens to Philly. The team landed the piece they were missing after three straight losses in the NFC Championship Game. The party — remember his first preseason game? — was on.
The Daily News on July 1, 1992 with the news that the Flyers won the rights to 19-year-old center Eric Lindros, completing a blockbuster deal with Quebec.
6. Eric Lindros, 1992
The Flyers agreed to a deal with the Quebec Nordiques for Lindros before the 1992 NHL draft. But so did the Rangers. Now what? An arbitrator ruled that the Flyers-Nordiques deal came first so Lindros — who refused to play for Quebec and skipped the previous NHL season — belonged to Philly. Fans still remember the name Larry Bertuzzi, who was the arbiter who ruled in the Flyers’ favor. Lindros was pegged as a generational player and the best talent to enter the NHL since Mario Lemieux. The Flyers were five years removed from their last trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and Philly was still very much a hockey town. The arrival of Lindros was huge.
The Sixers and coach Billy Cunningham (left) rode to the championship in Moses Malone’s first season in Philly in 1982-83.(Philadelphia Daily News/George Reynolds)
5. Moses Malone, 1982
Who better to add after losing in the NBA Finals than the NBA MVP? That’s what happened to the Sixers after they fell to the Lakers in 1982 and went after Moses Malone. So how did they land him? Cash. Houston had the right to match any offer Malone signed since he was a restricted free agent so Harold Katz built a deal that he knew the new Rockets ownership group could not match. The contract was the largest in NBA history and was built on cash instead of deferred payments, stocks, or bonds. Katz said Houston would lose money if they agreed to the terms. They agreed with Katz and worked out a sign-and-trade to send Malone to Philly. The headlines wrote themselves — “76ers Hope to Follow Moses to Playoffs’ Promised Land,” said the Daily News back page — as the Sixers looked for their missing piece after promising Philly that they owed them a title. “There is good money to be spent and there is bad money. Money for Moses Malone is good money,” Katz said. His “Good money” was “Stupid Money” before “Stupid Money.”
Pete Rose (right) tells the media in 1978 that negotiations with Phillies owner Ruly Carpenter (left) were unsuccessful. Rose wanted more money than the Phillies were offering.Bill Ingraham
4. Pete Rose, 1978
Pete Rose came to Veterans Stadium in 1978, met with the Phillies, and then held a news conference — sitting alongside owner Ruly Carpenter — to say he declined the team’s offer that was substantially lower than others. Can you imagine that happening today? The Phils were out on Rose, who they thought was the player needed to get over the hump after years of near misses. But they got back in the box a week later at the winter meetings in Disney World. The Phillies upped their offer and landed Rose. No player until James came to Philly with a track record like Rose: an MVP, two World Series titles, three batting crowns, and on his way to becoming baseball’s hit king. And it almost didn’t happen. Inquirer columnist Larry Eichel wrote the next day that Rose was “the hired torch brought here in the hopes that his undying competitive fire will catch and ignite a team known as much for its listlessness and studied nonchalance as for its performance.” The Phillies were hoping for more than just a player but a new identity. Sounds familiar.
Julius Erving shakes hands with 76ers owner Fitz Eugene Dixon at a news conference to announce the signing of the former ABA star on Oct. 21, 1976.A
3. Dr. J, 1976
The Sixers outbid the Lakers and the Bucks to land Erving, who won three straight MVP awards in the ABA with the Nets and was considered to be the best player in the world. He reimagined the slam dunk earlier that year and kids dreamed of being like the Doctor long before they wanted to “Be Like Mike.” Like James, Dr. J was more than a basketball star: he was a celebrity. And he joined a team that made the playoffs the previous season for the first time in four years. The dormant Sixers were finally starting to emerge.
Bryce Harper is introduced to the Phillies with his new friend the Phanatic during a news conference on March 2, 2019 in Clearwater, Fla.Mike Ehrmann / MCT
2. Bryce Harper, 2019
You thought LeBron James took awhile to make a decision? The Bryce Harper chase lasted months and bled into spring training before Harper finally joined the Phils days after John Middleton flew his private jet to Las Vegas to give a final sales pitch. The saga was long, but it was filled with great drama: The Phils went to Vegas to meet Harper, hosted Manny Machado at Citizens Bank Park, lost Machado to the Padres, and then seemed to be losing Harper to the Dodgers. But then Middleton’s “Stupid Money” prevailed. It was euphoria best summed up by the 8-year-old kid who got off the school bus to learn Harper was a Phil: “What!? No. No. He’s a Dodger. You’re joking!”
Harper beats out Dr. J and Rose because sports are just a bigger industry now than they were then. Every move — and flight — was tracked all offseason as the Phillies pursued their guy. Those other moves took a few weeks to finish. This was a quest. The team store at Citizens Bank Park ran out of the letter “E” to make Harper jerseys and Fanatics said it was the most popular sports jersey in a player’s first 48 hours with a team. The Phillies sold more than 100,000 tickets in the hours after Harper signed as everyone was swept up in the hysteria. The reactions were just different in 2019 than they were in 1976 or 1978.
LeBron James picked the Sixers to play with for his 24th NBA season in 2026-27.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
1. LeBron James, 2026
It made basketball sense for James to pick Philly after the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown. James could join a win-ready roster with Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. Of course, he’s coming to Philly. But then the decision slowed down. Maybe we were thinking with our hearts and not our minds. The insiders narrowed his choice to Miami or Cleveland with Philly being a No. 3. And then came the best Friday news dump in Philadelphia history: James was joining the 76ers. It was the biggest transaction in the history of Philadelphia sports. Harper was exciting. This was bigger. Dr. J moved the needle but not like this. Pete Rose? Sorry, Charlie Hustle. That was no match for LeBron’s arrival. No matter what happens next, you’ll always remember where you were last Friday when LeBron picked Philly.
