The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive identity is changing, and intentionally so. After leading the NFL in total defense and DVOA under Vic Fangio in 2024, the organization is tweaking what worked to stay ahead of the league’s offensive evolution. Their approach to 2025 reflects less emphasis on raw pass-rush depth and a stronger focus on coverage and defensive versatility.
It’s a bold choice for a team that once defined itself by dominance up front. The Eagles won their first Super Bowl after the 2017 season through relentless trench play and rode a similar formula back to the championship five years later. But this time, Fangio’s system, rooted in tight coverage and disguised pressure, has shifted that philosophy. The front office, led by Howie Roseman, now appears comfortable leaning on a lighter edge rotation if it strengthens the back seven.
How Jalen Carter and Vic Fangio Are Redefining the Eagles’ Defense in 2025
Jalen Carter headlines the Eagles’ defensive front and represents the core of this new direction. The 2024 Pro Bowler logged an exceptional 79% of defensive snaps, an unusually high workload for an interior lineman, and dominated late in the year, playing over 90% in multiple competitive games. His presence forces offenses to reconfigure protections, creating indirect value for the edges.
On the perimeter, 24-year-olds Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt will be tasked with producing under heavier snaps. Smith’s 10.5 combined sacks in the regular and postseason tied for the team lead, validating the front office’s trust in his second-year leap. Hunt, meanwhile, emerged late after Brandon Graham’s injury, turning a 7% early-season snap rate into a vital rotational role down the stretch.
With Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, and Graham retired, depth remains thin. Roseman’s low-cost signings of Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche could fill the gap, but a midseason trade remains possible if internal development lags.
Fangio’s schematic influence explains the reshuffling. His defense often uses four-man pressures that don’t rely solely on traditional edge rushers. Instead, hybrid linebackers and safeties create unpredictability. Both Zack Baun and rookie Jihaad Campbell bring that overhang rushing capability, adding deception to Fangio’s play-calling.
“The Eagles are betting that Fangio’s structure can sustain elite play even without a stacked defensive line,” wrote Shawn Syed of Sumer Sports, analyzing how the coordinator uses disguised pressure to manipulate protections.
It’s a calculated risk that prioritizes long-term balance over brute-force pass rushing. But given Fangio’s track record and the organization’s growing trust in Carter and its young edges, the 2025 Eagles appear confident they can remain contenders while tinkering with what made them champions.
