Eagles know on Day 1 they have to 'prove it all over again'

It was perfect: A sparkling Wednesday morning at the NovaCare Complex with the Philadelphia Eagles on the field for a crisp 75 minutes in helmets and shells and all kinds of energy and tempo and execution.

A turning-the-page moment – maybe for the fans – but "it's the nature of this game, it's the nature of this business. What have you done for me lately?" said running back Saquon Barkley for the players and team as the 2025 Training Camp kicked off. Every part of it was great and other than taking a few moments to adjust to some new names on the backs of jerseys and newly assigned uniform numbers, it was just like every other Training Camp opener.

This one, of course, brought with it some differences. By virtue of the 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9 in New Orleans, the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX and they celebrated the World Championship and then launched into the offseason.

And now, here we are.

"Most of the leaders are on the same page with moving on," left tackle Jordan Mailata said. "For me, we're not defending nothing. I hate hearing that (that the Eagles are the defending Super Bowl Champions). I think it contributes to a 'Super Bowl hangover,' and I'm trying not to be hungover. I'm moving on. When I hear, 'We're the defending Super Bowl champs,' we ain't (nothing). We ain't nothing. We're here to prove it all over again.

"It's a whole new team. It's a whole new league. We've got to go earn it. We're not defending nothing."

This is the perfect encapsulation of how the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles are singularly focused on what is right in front of them. Barkley, for example, was asked on Wednesday why it's so hard to rush for 2,000 yards a second time in the NFL and his answer was right on the mark.

"The reason why it's hard to do it twice is because it's hard to do it the first time," he said, laughing. "Only nine of us have ever done it."

Last year is last year and so, what did Wednesday bring? There are going to be some hot takes about the way the Eagles rotated at safety next to Reed Blankenship, or at the cornerback position, and on and on and on and, guess what? That's the way it is in every single Training Camp. Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio wants to learn as much as he can about every player, so he is going to move his chess pieces all over the board.

This was Day 1, and it was glorious. Eagles football is back and, really, there is no better time with the season underway.

"Don't let success change your routines and habits," All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson said. "That's what makes a team successful. Try to lean in on that. We're not trying to play hero ball."

Every season brings with it an understanding that every team is 0-0 and every player is once again in position to prove himself. If you aren't improving, you're falling behind in this league, and that is a mantra that linebacker Zack Baun, the 2024 rise-to-stardom player here, carries with him every day.

If you haven't worked to improve on every part of your game, you're going to be bypassed. That's just how it works in the NFL.

"Nobody rests on what they did in the past, or if they do, it's going to hurt them," Baun said. "For me, last year was great. It was a chance to show the kind of player I can be. But I know there are weaknesses in my game and there are things I can work on. That's what I have been focused on. The entire experience of last season was just awesome, but I'm also aware that I can have a lot of growth in me and that is my purpose now.

"Get better every day. Nothing changes with that. This is a new season and a new team and we have a lot to prove. I have a lot to prove. That's all I'm thinking about now. That's all this team is thinking about: How can we get better and win games?"