PHILADELPHIA – Jordan Love didn’t see Zack Baun, but the Philadelphia Eagles linebacker was right where he was supposed to be.
Baun lined up between the hashmarks and dropped back into coverage as the Green Bay Packers quarterback scanned the middle of the field in Sunday’s wild-card playoff contest. The former New Orleans Saint, who primarily played on special teams before signing with the Eagles on a one-year deal this offseason, had the wherewithal thanks to his preparation and coaching to peel off his man (tight end Tucker Kraft) and pick off Love – who was targeting Malik Heath on an intermediate in-breaking route – near midfield as the Eagles had a 10-0 lead with less than a minute before halftime.
After the Eagles’ win, Baun called the play “a dream interception.” Not because it was the playoffs or any reason other than it was an example of the freedom and trust he earned from his teammates and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
“I think with Vic, you have to earn that type of freedom,” said Baun, who described the interception as a “you take it, you make it” type of play.
He added: “Because obviously you hit the guy over the ball, that’s a 10-yard gain. … Just people trusting me and me trusting my own abilities … I trusted it and went and got it.”
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That’s actually a mutual trust between Baun and Fangio – the coach to make the proper calls and the player to execute them – that has developed over the course of the season, which has been “really cool,” Baun said.
“Because it takes a long time for us to figure out the scheme and Vic and the coaches to figure out who we are and what we can do,” he said in a joyful Eagles locker room following their 22-10 victory to set up a date with the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. “So that influences what he can call at certain times.”
Baun couldn’t pinpoint when he earned that trust.
“I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “I just kind of did it. It’s there now.”
In the process, Baun turned in a 2024 season that landed him on the first-team All-Pro squad at inside linebacker.
Not bad for somebody who took 27.7% of the Saints’ defensive snaps his final season with the team.
How Fangio, Eagles unlocked the best of Baun
Not even Fangio could have predicted Baun’s season, even if the longtime defensive coordinator and Denver Broncos head coach from 2019-21 had the sense to move Baun to off-ball linebacker.
“It’s hard to say … but I think you don’t put any limits on players,” Fangio said. “If you put limits on them, you’ll get limited production. Take them to the ceiling that they can go to.”
“Obviously he’s had a great year. I think exceeded most everyone’s expectations, probably even himself. But now there (are) no limitations. He’s set a standard for himself. He’s got to show up and do it every week.”
Fangio didn’t want to compare Baun’s campaign to that of other inside linebackers he’s coached, but he said Baun “is playing really good, and we’re thrilled to have him.”
Baun started more games this season (16) than he had in four years with the Saints (14). He equaled his career sack total (2.0) during the season opener in Brazil against the Packers. His sack production fell off from there, but that’s not what Fangio and his teammates need him to do, despite his success in college rushing the passer off the edge (12 ½ sacks in 2019, his final season at Wisconsin).
He racked up 15 tackles (11 solo) against Green Bay in Week 1 and hit the ground running, fellow inside linebacker Oren Burks said after the wild-card victory over the Packers.
“Really from the (first) Packers game, he just came out firing away, letting the game come to him, just flowing, being who he is as a playmaker,” Burks said of Baun.
Baun’s versatility and experience at outside linebacker is a bonus, but Fangio was reluctant to move him there even when the Eagles lost Brandon Graham for the season.
“He’s obviously had a hell of a year,” Burks said. “I feel like that’s a testament to the work that he’s had during his whole career, just finding a great fit here in Philadelphia. It’s been cool to see, like a team guy playing a lot more on defense and taking advantage of the opportunity. He’s worked his (expletive) off and, just really proud of him.”
The inside linebacker position was a weakness of recent Eagles defenses, and Fangio knew he had to address the position upon his arrival.
“I tell you what, I’m happy for him, but once he made those first couple big plays for him this year, the sky was the limit for him,” outside linebacker Josh Sweat told USA TODAY Sports. “(I’m) telling you, especially like here, where we’ve been struggling with linebackers over the years – just saying how it is – we couldn’t do it without him.”
Nakobe Dean, a third-round draft pick from 2022, was ready to step into a starting role and was the defensive play-caller on the field with the “green dot” connected to Fangio’s headset. But a knee injury suffered against the Packers last Sunday will cost him the rest of the playoffs. Baun will have to step up and be the liaison between Philadelphia’s 10 other defensive players in action and Fangio.
Baun referred to Dean as “my brother” and someone who teaches him a lot in addition to being the “ultimate leader of the defense.”
“To see anyone go down, especially him, it really hurts,” Baun said.
How much more will the Eagles have to rely on Baun in Dean’s absence?
“(Expletive), man, a little more,” Sweat said. “We’re gonna have people step in, they’re ready to go, you see Oren already. We’d love to have Nakobe for sure, but unfortunately, that’s the way it’s gotta be.”
Burks took over for Dean against the Packers, and Fangio said to expect rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to receive more playing time.
Burks called Dean the unsung hero of the defense who commanded respect by playing physical ball and helping position his teammates in the right spot. That responsibility now falls to Baun, who has learned Fangio’s team along with the rest of his teammates, which has made the entire unit closer, Burks said.
“Just a lot of respect for our room, everybody from top down has handled their business,” Burks said. “It’s fun to learn from each other. We’re learning all at the same time.”
For Baun, that meant becoming familiar with Fangio’s coverages as much as he once worked on pass-rush moves.
“He doesn’t do a lot of exotic fronts or third-down pressures, but a lot of exotic stuff coverage-wise,” Baun said. “That takes a really smart and communicative defense to handle something like that. Then I really think what sets Vic apart is his situational play-calling, and when to call plays, is really good.”
Baun had his letdowns despite an overall successful year. Fangio would have liked to see him stick with Washington Commanders receiver Jamison Crowder longer in zone coverage on the game-winning touchdown in Week 16 to prevent Jayden Daniels from having such an open window to throw into, for example.
But without Fangio’s scouting capabilities, Baun may have never had a chance to start in the league. When Fangio evaluates players, he told reporters during the regular season, there are no boxes to check. The 66-year-old evaluates movement patterns and doesn’t hold much regard for league-wide opinions.
“I trust my own eyes, my own experience and go by that,” Fangio said. “There are a lot of people that want to know what the majority is thinking and take the easy way out, but I’ve never been that guy.”
Eagles executive vice president Howie Roseman first brought up the idea of signing Baun, but he had a vision for him as a backup outside linebacker and special teams “demon,” Fangio said.
“After I watched (the film), I said ‘No, I think he’s an inside linebacker,’” Fangio said. “Luckily, it hit.”
Luck is one minor factor of Baun’s ascension. The pairing with Fangio, the preparation throughout the week and results on the field are other, larger reasons. And Love may disagree, but by being in Philadelphia, Baun became impossible to miss in 2024.
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
