The Philadelphia Eagles were without a doubt the best team in the NFC and one of the Top 3 NFL teams throughout the regular season. They went 14-1 with MVP candidate Jalen Hurts under center and dominated teams upfront on both sides of the football. And while offseason additions like wide receivers A.J. Brown and cornerbacks James Bradberry and Chaucey Gardner-Johnson were huge, no offseason move has been bigger than that of edge rusher Haason Reddick signing in the offseason.
Who Is Haason Reddick?
The former Temple Owls walk-on and Haddon Heights, New Jersey, native who grew up an Eagles fan, has provided a consistent pass rush for a unit that, including the playoffs, has 80 sacks this season. That is good enough for third-most in a single season.
Reddick had a whopping 16 sacks this season, second-most in the league, making him the first player in NFL history to record double-digit sacks for three different teams in three consecutive seasons. He also did it with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 and Carolina Panthers in 2021. In fact, in just two postseason games, Reddick has the fifth-most sacks (3.5) in franchise history behind, Brandon Graham, Derrick Burgess, Hugh Douglas, and the late, great Reggie White.
Following Sunday’s big 31-7 NFC Championship Game win over the 49ers, Reddick told reporters this in the locker room.
“This right here is crazy,” Reddick said in the locker room with an “NFC Champions” cap on his head. “They got to put us in a movie. This is a script. I’m telling you this is a script.”
Without Reddick, Philly would still be a good team, but his game-changing plays throughout the season have played a huge role in their gaudy 16-3 record and why they’re 60 minutes away from the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. He’s been the leader of that vaunted pass rush that’s completely dominated offenses.
Haason Reddick Regular Season + Playoffs:
– 19.5 Sacks
– 30 QB Hits
– 13 TFL
– 6 FF#DPOY pic.twitter.com/1RwXKAcTXQ— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) February 1, 2023
Reddick Is A DPOY Candidate
Oddsmakers believe Niners edge rusher Nick Bosa will win Defensive Player of the Year, but Reddick is definitely deserving of consideration. He’s currently seventh in odds.
Teammate Kyzir White believes Reddick is the DPOY, and he told USA Sports such.
“Best defensive player in the game,” White said. “It ain’t close. I know he humble, laid-back quiet. He’s the best doing it. Now it’s time for people to put some respect on his name.”
That three-year, $45 million deal the sack master signed in the offseason looks like a real bargain right now for the Eagles.
Don't put a TE on Haason Reddick ✍️✍️ pic.twitter.com/lN8jqEcEFz
— PFF (@PFF) January 30, 2023
Reddick Has A Knack For Making Game-Changing Plays
Just as he did to Niners quarterback Brock Purdy in the NFC title game, Reddick is no stranger to forcing fumbles. Since 2020 no player in the league has forced more than his 13, to go along with 39.5 of his 47 career sacks.
Haason Reddick had a stellar performance in the NFC title match 🔥 pic.twitter.com/496XGIdSOG
— NFL (@NFL) January 31, 2023
Fellow defensive lineman Javon Hargrave told USA Sports that his teammate is “a monster.”
That description might tell it all, and if that monster shows up in Glendale, Arizona, in two weeks, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have to pull off some more of that “Mahomeboy Magic.”
