Former Chiefs Pass Rusher Could Be Eagles’ Breakout X-Factor

Philadelphia, PA – May 26, 2025

Every Super Bowl run creates unexpected momentum shifts — not just on the field, but in the roster room. After defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in February, the Eagles quietly scored another win by signing edge rusher Josh Uche, a former Patriots standout and midseason trade pickup for Kansas City. Now, with a one-year deal and everything to prove, Uche might be the most overlooked weapon on Philadelphia’s revamped defense.

Once a second-round pick by New England in 2020, Uche had a breakout season in 2022 with 11.5 sacks, flashing elite burst and bend off the edge. But injuries, scheme changes, and inconsistent usage have limited his impact since. Traded to the Chiefs last fall, Uche logged just 10 tackles in six games — a far cry from his peak production. And yet, there’s a reason the Eagles came calling.

“If any club can accentuate pass-rushing skill, it’s the Eagles,” wrote CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso, who pegged Uche as a breakout candidate in a contract year. “He won’t need to do a variety of things for Vic Fangio — just rush the passer.”

And that’s exactly the plan. With Josh Sweat and Milton Williams gone in free agency, and Haason Reddick two years removed from the roster, Philadelphia’s pass-rushing rotation is open for competition. Uche enters a crowded but fluid battle, squaring off with Azeez Ojulari, Bryce Huff, and Jalyx Hunt for the right to line up opposite Nolan Smith Jr.

Uche brings something the others don’t: raw speed off the edge and a hunger sharpened by uncertainty. At 26, this season isn’t just a second chance — it’s a contract audition. If he delivers, the payoff could be a long-term deal in 2026. If not, he risks becoming another “what-if” story.

But the Eagles aren’t gambling. They’re calculating. They see a fit in Fangio’s simplified pressure packages, and a chance to catch lightning in a bottle once more — just as they did with Reddick in 2022. “This is the type of low-risk move that makes contenders dangerous,” said one NFC executive anonymously.

For Josh Uche, the mission is clear: win reps, earn snaps, and disrupt quarterbacks. And in Philadelphia, that might be all he needs to do to rewrite his career arc — and tilt the playoff scales again.