Eagles
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
The Philadelphia Eagles are not entering the 2026 season as a rebuilding team. They are entering it as a contender facing a difficult transition. One year after winning Super Bowl LIX, Philadelphia finished the 2025 regular season with an 11-6 record before losing 23-19 to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round. That result did not erase the strength of the roster, but it showed how quickly the margin for error can disappear in the NFL.
Now, the Eagles must prove that they can evolve without abandoning the identity that has made them successful. Philadelphia still has Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, one of the league’s most respected offensive lines, and a defense filled with young talent. However, the offense has a new coordinator, the receiving corps has changed significantly, and expectations remain as high as ever.
A New Voice for Jalen Hurts and the Offense
The biggest change begins with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. The former NFL quarterback arrives as a first-time play-caller, which immediately creates one of the most important storylines of Training Camp.
Mannion does not need to completely reinvent the Eagles’ offense. The foundation is already clear. Philadelphia wants to control the line of scrimmage, establish the running game, create favorable matchups, and use Hurts’ mobility to put additional pressure on defenses. The challenge is making that approach less predictable and more adaptable.
Hurts is at his best when the entire offense works together. He should not be asked to rescue every possession with an improvised throw or a difficult third-down conversion. A productive running game can create better play-action opportunities, while improved spacing and timing can give Hurts clearer answers against pressure. The Eagles need an offense that can win physically, but also one that can adjust when opponents take away its preferred options.
Mannion’s relationship with Hurts will be crucial. Their ability to communicate, diagnose problems, and make in-game adjustments may ultimately matter more than any new formation or individual play.
Life After A.J. Brown
The trade that sent A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots changed the shape of Philadelphia’s offense. Brown was not only a highly productive receiver. His physical style also represented much of what the Eagles wanted to be. He could win against tight coverage, create yards after contact, and force defensive coordinators to change their plans.
The Eagles will not replace that impact with one player, and they should not try to.
DeVonta Smith now becomes the unquestioned leader of the wide receiver room. He has already shown that he can produce as a primary option, but his role will carry even more responsibility in 2026. Around him, Philadelphia has added several different skill sets. Hollywood Brown brings speed, Dontayvion Wicks offers size and versatility, Elijah Moore can work from multiple alignments, and first-round pick Makai Lemon enters the league with an opportunity to earn an immediate role.
The key will be creating a receiving group that is deeper and less dependent on one matchup. If multiple players can contribute consistently, the Eagles may become more difficult to defend even without a direct replacement for A.J. Brown.
The Defense Must Continue Setting the Tone
While the offense works through major changes, Vic Fangio’s defense may provide the Eagles with their most stable identity.
Philadelphia’s defensive front remains central to everything the team wants to accomplish. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis have the talent to control the interior, while Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt, and the rest of the edge group will be responsible for creating pressure from the outside. When the Eagles can disrupt the quarterback without constantly sending extra rushers, Fangio has more options in coverage and can disguise his intentions.
The development of the secondary will be equally important. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have quickly become foundational pieces, but the unit must continue growing around them. Philadelphia will need reliable communication, disciplined tackling, and consistent play from the safety position.
The defense does not need to be perfect every week. It does, however, need to give the offense time to find its rhythm, especially early in the season.
Maintaining the Standard
The Eagles report for Training Camp on July 28, and the practices that follow will be about more than deciding the final roster. They will offer the first real indication of how Philadelphia plans to respond to disappointment and change.
The talent is still there. The leadership is still there. The championship expectations are still there.
What remains uncertain is how quickly the new pieces will fit together. Can Mannion help Hurts and the offense become more flexible? Can Smith lead a reshaped receiving corps? Can the defense remain one of the team’s defining strengths? Can Philadelphia continue developing young players while competing for another championship?
Those questions will shape the 2026 season. The Eagles do not need to become a completely different team, but they cannot simply repeat what worked in the past. Their greatest challenge is finding the right balance: evolving enough to stay ahead of the league while preserving the physical, demanding identity that made them champions.
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