Philadelphia, PA – July 26, 2025
He was supposed to watch from the sidelines. Instead, he walked into Eagles camp like a man on a mission. And now, the entire building is watching him.
Nobody expected the rookie to be out there this soon. Not with a surgically repaired labrum. Not with a training plan that said August. But what unfolded on the opening day of camp wasn’t a mistake — it was Jihaad Campbell rewriting the story, before the coaches even opened their notebooks.
For a moment, there was confusion. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had only weeks earlier tempered expectations: Campbell would be “limited until later.” But the former Alabama linebacker took the field on Day 1, strapped up, flying across 11-on-11 drills like he had something to prove — because he does.
"You never know with these doctors," Fangio joked when asked. "They downplay everything so when a guy surprises you, you think he's Superman."
But this wasn’t comic book magic. It was months of silent work. The kind that doesn’t show up on social media. While other rookies posed in their new uniforms, Campbell was behind closed doors pushing a busted shoulder beyond medical timelines — not to impress anyone, but to honor the pick that was spent on him.
And now the ripple effects are starting.
If Campbell’s body holds up, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. might feel the heat. The Eagles don’t draft a linebacker in Round 1 — at No. 31 overall — to stash him behind veterans. Campbell’s versatility means he could play inside, outside, or anywhere Fangio needs him to create chaos. And chaos is what this defense has lacked.
Even more telling: players noticed. Reporters noticed. Fans noticed. Campbell didn’t need words. His burst spoke for him. His movement, his read-and-react — all of it looked ahead of schedule, ahead of plan, ahead of fear.
Just months ago, he was a question mark. Today, he looks like an answer.
This is the new standard in Philly: no excuses, no delays, no holding back. Jihaad Campbell didn’t just show up early. He showed up ready. And when the season kicks off, don’t be surprised if No. 32 is the one calling the shots.
“They said I wouldn’t be ready,” Campbell later told a teammate in passing. “I didn’t say a word. I just got to work.”
Stay tuned to ESPN.
