Eagles Rookie Is Dominating Camp — Coaches Say He Can Line Up Anywhere

Philadelphia, PA – July 30, 2025

At most NFL training camps, rookies show up hoping to keep up. Maybe earn a few reps. Prove they belong. But every so often, a rookie shows up and flips the script entirely.

That’s exactly what Jihaad Campbell is doing in Philadelphia.

By just the fifth day of Eagles camp, position meetings started sounding different. Instead of talking about how to bring him along slowly, coaches were trying to figure out where to put him — because wherever the offense lined up, No. 32 was already one step ahead.

Slot? WILL? Dime linebacker? He was doing it all. And doing it fast.

Campbell isn’t the loudest guy on the field — but he doesn’t need to be. His play speaks volumes. He’s jamming tight ends, flying into the backfield, and blanketing flats like a seasoned vet. One coach put it bluntly:

“Where can’t he play?”

Drafted in the third round out of Alabama, Campbell arrived with all the athletic upside you could hope for. But what’s blowing the staff away isn’t just his speed — it’s his range, awareness, and versatility.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn’t mince words:

“You don’t often get a rookie who can line up at WILL, MIKE, and STAR — but he can.”

Now he’s getting snaps in sub-packages, taking special teams seriously, and mastering calls from three separate spots. While most first-year players are still adjusting to the NFL’s tempo, Campbell is moving like the game’s already slowing down for him.

What’s making the biggest impression? His instincts. One assistant coach described it perfectly:

“He’s got the body of a linebacker and the eyes of a safety.”

As the Eagles begin shaping a defense for the post–Fletcher Cox era, Campbell’s emergence is more than exciting — it’s foundational. He’s not just another body. He’s someone who might redefine how this defense lines up.

“You can’t miss him,” a veteran said after practice. “He’s flying around — and he’s loud without saying anything.”

With that kind of presence, Jihaad Campbell isn’t just fitting in. He’s forcing his way into the conversation as one of the most important young players on this team’s future.