Philadelphia, PA – June 4, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles have made headlines this week — not for a blockbuster signing, but for a locker room controversy that’s ending in exile. Star defensive end Bryce Huff, once hailed as the Eagles’ premier offseason acquisition, has now found himself traded to the San Francisco 49ers just weeks after publicly criticizing the team’s defensive coaching.
Multiple team insiders confirm that Huff privately expressed frustration with how defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was using him during practice sessions. He reportedly believed the system was limiting his explosiveness off the edge and not capitalizing on the strengths that made him a breakout pass-rusher with the Jets.
“He felt like a chess piece being wasted,” one anonymous teammate told local media. “Bryce didn’t think he was brought here just to run stunts and drop back. He came to sack quarterbacks.”
While Huff never voiced these concerns in a press conference, sources suggest his opinions were made known in team meetings — and not well received. Shortly after, fans and reporters noticed a dramatic reduction in his practice reps and his absence from media scrums.
Less than two weeks later, the move was official: Bryce Huff was traded to the 49ers for a mid-round draft pick and cap relief. No tribute video. No formal farewell. No thank-you post from the Eagles.
On social media, fans were stunned. Many saw this as a warning shot — that no one, not even a $51 million man, is above Fangio’s system. Others questioned whether the Eagles had overreacted.
“You don’t sign a star pass-rusher just to silence him,” one fan wrote on X. “If he had something to say, maybe the coaches should’ve listened.”
The Eagles, for their part, have remained silent, emphasizing "team unity and long-term planning" in a brief statement.
For Huff, the move is bittersweet. Though the 49ers offer a fresh start, it’s clear he had unfinished business in Philadelphia. And for the Eagles, the situation raises uncomfortable questions about internal communication, ego management, and whether they've just let go of a defensive force due to a clash of philosophies.
One thing is certain: when the 49ers visit Philly this season, all eyes will be on number 47 — and the coach who let him walk.
