Jihaad Campbell Staying Ready, Learning Fast as Eagles Rookie Navigates Up-and-Down Season
LANDOVER, Md. - For a first-round pick like Jihaad Campbell, this season could’ve easily gone sideways. Losing your starting spot midway through your rookie year?
That’s not easy for anyone, let alone a 21-year-old trying to make his mark in the NFL. But if there’s one thing Campbell hasn’t done, it’s sulk.
Instead, he’s stayed locked in, working behind the scenes, learning from vets, and keeping his mindset right.
“I’m a 21-year-old linebacker in the NFL, so damn sure got a bright future ahead of me,” Campbell said after the Eagles’ win over the Commanders on Saturday. That confidence isn’t just talk - it’s backed up by how he’s handled the adversity of being benched and how he responded when his number was called again.
Let’s rewind a bit. Early in the season, Campbell was the guy.
But once Nakobe Dean got healthy after missing the first five games with a knee injury, the Eagles handed the keys to the fourth-year linebacker. Dean brought a noticeable boost to the defense, particularly against the run and on blitzes - areas where Campbell is still developing.
According to Pro Football Focus, Campbell currently ranks 45th out of 85 linebackers in run defense, showing there’s still work to be done.
That said, Campbell’s upside is real. He’s fluid in coverage, which is a premium trait in today’s NFL.
He’s already flashed that potential - just go back to Week 1, when he stayed stride-for-stride with Cowboys tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford and broke up a deep ball from Dak Prescott. That’s not a play every linebacker makes.
But Campbell knows he can’t hang his hat on a few highlight plays. He’s focused on building out the rest of his game.
“I’m not perfect,” he said. “Just learning from the greats, right?
Even from the linebackers we got. Learning from a guy like Bobby Wagner, who we just played.
Just learning and finding different ways and finding different tools to not just focus on one area, but focus on the overall picture of, ‘Okay, what is linebacker actually? What is their job?
What is their task?’”
That mindset came in handy Saturday, when Dean exited in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. Campbell was suddenly back in the mix - his first extended defensive action in six weeks.
He played 36 snaps and made the most of them, finishing with six tackles and a tackle for loss. It was a reminder that, while he’s not the finished product yet, he’s still a valuable piece of this defense.
From Week 10 through Week 15, Campbell had only logged 46 defensive snaps total, spending most of his time on special teams. But even in that limited role, he stayed ready. That’s been one of his biggest takeaways during this rollercoaster of a rookie year.
“It’s all about being prepared for those moments, for those opportunities that will present itself,” Campbell said. “So I know what’s going on and so I can be trusted.”
In his eight starts this season, Campbell has totaled 45 tackles and one interception. Again, it’s the coverage ability that jumps off the tape, but he’s working to round out the rest of his game - especially as a run defender and playmaker behind the line of scrimmage.
“I’m never satisfied,” he said. “Definitely got to keep on improving my whole play style.
I’m going to continue to do that with the help of the coaches and watching more film. I just want to be the best version of myself so I can be the best one day.”
As for the future? That’s where things get interesting.
Dean, who’s emerged as one of the league’s top linebackers over the last two seasons, is set to hit free agency this offseason. He’s expected to be one of the most sought-after defensive players on the market, and he’ll likely command a hefty contract. That could force the Eagles into a tough decision - pay up to keep Dean or turn the reins back over to Campbell and save cap space.
If it comes to that, Campbell would have big shoes to fill. But he’s not shying away from the challenge.
“It’s always a pleasure to watch his tape,” Campbell said of Dean. “Watching ZB’s (Zack Baun) tape, too.
This game is all about learning and applying it. I want to make those splash plays, those big plays to move forward along with the whole defense.”
For now, Campbell is focused on finishing strong and soaking up every rep. He may not be the starter right now, but he’s proving he’s got the mindset - and the skill set - to be a key piece of the Eagles' defense for years to come.