PHILADELPHIA — If it weren’t for Vic Fangio, Zack Baun would be just another special teams standout getting rotational snaps as a pass rusher. The Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator had other plans for Baun.
Fangio saw Baun learning a new position and excelling at that position. The Eagles allocated their cap space to premium positions like quarterback, running back, wide receiver and pass rusher. Philadelphia had to be creative at other positions, linebacker being one of them.
Enter Baun, a player Fangio thought could outlast his one-year, $1.5 million contract. Instead of excelling on special teams, Fangio had Baun play inside linebacker.
“When I evaluate players, there are no check boxes, things that get checked off. You just watch the tape, you watch the movement patterns, you watch the player play,” Fangio said. “AND [Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager] howie [Roseman] He mentioned it to me first, but I had a vision for him as a backup outside linebacker/special teams demon.”
Fangio deserves a pat on the back for Baun, who is the only player in the NFL with 80-plus tackles, two-plus sacks and an interception this season. Baun was awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in Week 10, finishing with eight tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He is just the second Eagles off-ball linebacker to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors since 2000, joining Jeremiah Trotter Sr. in 2005.
“After I saw him, I said no, I think he’s an inside linebacker,” Fangio said. “Fortunately it hit the mark.”
In Baun’s last three games, he has 30 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception. It should come as no surprise that his play is the reason the Eagles have allowed the fewest yards per game (213.7) and yards per play (3.9) in the NFL. The Eagles defense has thrived under Baun, as they are tied for fourth in the league in points per game allowed (17.9), second in yards per game allowed (274.1) and second in yards per game allowed (4.8). Philadelphia also ranks third in red zone defense (42.3%) and passing yards allowed per game (173.4), another product of Baun’s impact on a revamped defense.
When the Eagles made their Super Bowl appearances this century, the defense was powered by excellent linebacker play: Jeremiah Trotter in 2004, Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks in 2017, and TJ Edwards in 2022. Baun may be carrying the defense to another at its current pace.
“I think I said here a while ago that it’s hard to play good defense in the NFL without good linebacker play,” Fangio said. “And that’s 100 percent true.”
