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3-Time Pro Bowl Eagles Newcomer Declares "Philly Will Deliver My First Super Bowl" After Signing Deal

Philadelphia, PA – September 6, 2025

When the Philadelphia Eagles moved swiftly to strengthen their defensive front after opening night, they didn’t just sign another veteran — they signed belief. For Za’Darius Smith, the three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher, joining the reigning champions isn’t just about filling a roster spot. It’s about chasing the one thing missing from his career: a Super Bowl ring.

I’ve made the Pro Bowl. I’ve sacked the best quarterbacks. But I’ve never touched the Lombardi. Philly’s gonna change that. This city, this team — I believe it’s where my first Super Bowl happens,” Smith told reporters after inking his one-year, incentive-laden deal worth up to $9 million.

Smith arrives as Philadelphia looks to patch holes left by the retirement of franchise icon Brandon Graham and the free-agent departure of Josh Sweat. With Jalen Carter facing potential league discipline after his ejection, the need for a proven edge presence became urgent. Smith, fresh off a 2024 campaign split between Cleveland and Detroit where he racked up nine sacks, brings both production and pedigree.

General manager Howie Roseman called the signing a “no-brainer,” citing Smith’s versatility and championship hunger. For a roster already stacked with talent in Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nolan Smith, the addition of a battle-tested veteran raises the ceiling even higher.

Drafted in 2015 by the Ravens, Smith has built a career on disruption — 60 career tackles for loss, countless pressures, and a reputation as one of the NFL’s toughest edge defenders. Yet despite all the accolades, the elusive Super Bowl has never come.

I sat in the stands during that Eagles–Cowboys opener, and I felt it — the fire, the passion, the energy. This is where champions are made. This is where I belong,” Smith said.

For the Eagles, this is more than a roster move. It’s a declaration. Signing Smith means adding leadership, attitude, and the kind of hunger that fuels deep playoff runs. And for Smith, it’s more than a contract — it’s a chance at destiny.

In Philadelphia, belonging is only half the battle. The other half is finishing the job. And Smith has made his mission clear: bring home his first Super Bowl, in Eagles green.

Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.