a Hero’s Welcome

Haason Reddick fits Philadelphia like a glove fits a hand. The hometown kid signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Eagles earlier this week, adding much needed support to a team aching for an elite pass rusher. Both parties benefit well off the deal as Reddick, who played his college ball at Temple, brings a ferocious presence to a defensive line that is slow, injured, and aging. Since the Temple Owls play their home games at Lincoln Financial Field, he is certainly no stranger to the home turf either. His play is tailor-made to match the intensity of the Philadelphia faithful.

Reddick’s football story begins in his hometown of Haddon Heights in Camden County, New Jersey. While attending Haddon Heights High School, he played at safety and running back for the school’s football team. In his senior season, he only appeared in four games due to a fractured femur and did not receive any college offers. He joined the Temple Owls as a walk-on in 2012, still playing the safety and running back positions. His breakout season came as a senior when he was named First-Team All-AAC after switching to defensive end and racking up 65 tackles and 10.5 sacks.

As his college career winded down, his draft stock rose following a stellar performance at the 2017 Senior Bowl. In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected him with the 13th overall pick, making him the first linebacker off the board that year. Reddick’s tenure with the team did not get off to fast start, as he only had 7.5 sacks in his first three seasons. In 2020, he broke out with 12.5 sacks and became a free agent after the season, signing with the Carolina Panthers and reuniting with his former Temple head coach Matt Rhule. Last season, he had another great campaign, recording 11 sacks in 16 games.

Spread Those Wings and Fly

Now, as a Philadelphia Eagle, everything has lined up for Reddick. The best is yet to come for the 27-year-old; he gets to play in front of his family and friends and he steps back on to a field in familiar territory. The city is behind him but will expect him to transform a defensive line that finished in the middle of the pack last year. Surely, he knows the crowd will either love him or hate him, but that will not faze him. He is just happy to be here and be home and his press conference gave a good indication of that. “I don't think the story could have been written any better…Now to have this thing come full circle and now had a chance to come play back here. This is wonderful.”