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Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X. Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Certain names in this city bring with them an affection from Philadelphia that will never be broken. Utley, Schmidt, Clarke, Erving, Iverson, Foles, and of course — Trotter. In a nearly century-long Eagles history with only a handful of pockets of time of excellence on the gridiron will always have that unmistakable image of that Ax-striking pose of Jeremiah Trotter against the backdrop of a gentle snow squall at Lincoln Financial Field.
Last year — the Eagles drafted Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. Now during an off-season where Nakobe Dean has left during free agency — the Eagles will once again be looking at adding depth at linebacker in the NFL Draft next week. The target of the Eagles’ attention may very well be someone from a familiar family.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Josiah Trotter is also a Philadelphia native and graduate of St. Joe’s Prep where he 29–4 and won two 6A State Championships. He spent two seasons at West Virginia before transferring to the University of Missouri where he was All-SEC in 2025. Fellow Philadelphian and Neumann Goretti graduate Eric Gentry played at the collegiate level for both Arizona State and USC — where he had seventy-five tackles in his senior season. He may very well also be on the board when the Eagles draft.
Twenty years ago — in 2005 — Andy Reid’s Eagles finally broke through the NFC Championship Game bottleneck — and advanced to their first Super Bowl since 1981. That Eagles defense — who made a run through the NFC Playoffs possible and would bring Philadelphia just one possession away from a Lombardi Trophy — was anchored by one of its most popular middle linebackers who returned just one year earlier.
Jeremiah Trotter — who had returned to the Eagles to help bring a Super Bowl victory after spending his first four seasons here after being drafted by the team in 1998 — and helped to anchor a Jim Johnson defense that would prove to be one of the best ever in Philadelphia.
There will once again be plenty of Philadelphia talent in the 2026 NFL Draft — perhaps just maybe — there will be some available when the Eagles are on the clock.
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