There were definitely some ups and downs, some adversity, for Jihaad Campbell in his rookie season.
He acknowledged that at locker cleanout day.
“But when you look back at it,” Campbell said, “the only thing that I can think about is just being grateful, being thankful for the opportunity that I earned throughout the season.”
It was a bit of an unusual rookie season for Campbell. While most rookies tend to earn more playing time throughout their first seasons in the NFL, it was the opposite for Campbell through no fault of his own.
Campbell, 21, began the season as a starting linebacker next to Zack Baun and showed real promise through the first six weeks of the season. But then Nakobe Dean came back, was inserted into the starting lineup and somehow played at an ever higher level than he did before tearing his patellar tendon in the 2024 playoffs.
So Campbell went back to the bench. But he showed a real maturity through it all that he said comes from his parents.
“I think it’s just all about controlling the things you can control and only that,” Campbell said. “I make sure that I come to this building every day with a smile on my face, with a mentality, a getting-to-work mentality, whatever it is. Having a neutral mindset of not getting too high or not getting too low. Just making sure that I’m coming in this building, I’m ready to work each and every day.”
Campbell started the first eight games of the season and the last two when Dean was dealing with a hamstring injury. He went back to the bench for the playoffs and played just one defensive snap in the 23-19 loss to the 49ers.
What did Campbell learn most from his rookie season? How to manage life as an NFL player.
“Just going from college into the league and having to understand what’s at task, especially for a first-round rookie,” Campbell explained. “It’s not like I got time and just sit the bench and relax. No. It’s time to actually work, it’s time to learn, it’s time to grow right now. It’s no shortcuts to it. It’s all about continuous improvement each and every day and just wanting to be better, the best version of yourself each and every day.”
The Eagles will have a tough decision to make this offseason because Dean is set to become a free agent in March after playing out his four-year rookie contract. While Vic Fangio would probably love to have Dean back in 2026, it probably isn’t in the cards. Last offseason, the Eagles signed Zack Baun to a three-year, $51 million contract and then they used a first-round pick on Campbell.
They have already invested in the linebacker position, which means Dean will probably end up elsewhere. But Campbell learned a lot from him as a rookie.
“That’s a damn good football player,” Campbell said. “Learned a lot from that guy, man, from run game to blitzes and in the passing game. Really just being a baller. Being an absolute person who knows football in general. I feel like it’s hard to come around guys that really know football, really can dissect it in a simple format. That’s what he does. That’s why he’s one of the best linebackers in the world.”
When Campbell was drafted, the Eagles talked up his ability to play off the edge and then Fangio used him in that role minimally in 2025.
Here’s how Campbell’s snaps broke down in his rookie season, per ProFootballFocus:
Linebacker: 514
Edge rusher: 150
Slot: 41
Wide corner/safety: 6
Campbell on Monday said he’s open to playing anywhere and just wants to add value no matter where the coaching staff decides to play him. He’ll trust Fangio to put him in the right spots.
After one year under the veteran DC, Campbell trusts Fangio fully.
“Some of the stuff I was taught, I never really knew,” Campbell said. “It’s always good to just sit down and analyze that. Especially from a vet DC who coached greats like Patrick Willis or like Navorro Bowman. I feel like it’s always great to have a guy like that around. I know that he’s going to continue to be one of the best D-coordinators in the world.”
