HUNGRY HAASON REDDICK’S HOMECOMING AS AN EAGLES STAR!

By Max Harper

Haason Reddick said it last week:

“I haven’t been as excited about playing football in the NFL since I’ve been in the NFL.”

And that means something, considering the near-constant uncertainty he’s faced in his football career up until this point.

At Temple, he was again forced to question his future in football when then-coach Steve Addazio told him he likely didn’t have a spot on the team after his first season playing corner.

But Reddick’s perseverance steady availed.

Coaching changes provided him an interchanging role as outside linebacker and defensive end under Matt Rhule, and he flourished at his new position, recording 42 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in three seasons.

When he began playing at his natural position, he recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks, tying for 4th-most in the league, ranked 3rd in tackles for loss, and posted 62 tackles.

“That was the problem with playing inside linebacker. There was just so much thinking for me that I wasn’t used to that I didn’t have the experience for at the time,” he said.

“So now that I’m in a position where I’m close to playing what I played in college, it takes out the thinking which allows my natural ability and my natural talent to take over my game for me.”

He was signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2021, back under Matt Rhule. He led the team with 11.0 sacks and 18 QB hits, but never really settled due to his limited one-year contract.

It’s clear – consistency was something he’d been sorely missing. But it’s something he’s quickly found at home in Philadelphia.

“It’s turning out to be everything that I wanted and more,” said Reddick.