The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2025 season carrying the weight of expectations that come with being a recent Super Bowl contender. And while an 11-6 record and an NFC East title would be a banner year for most franchises, in Philly, it felt like a letdown. That’s the reality when the standard is championship or bust.
Left tackle Jordan Mailata, speaking at the Super Bowl, didn’t sugarcoat it. He opened up about just how taxing the season was-physically, mentally, and emotionally.
“It was a very long season,” Mailata said. “Injuries played a big part.
The stress of trying to get back to where we were… we knew we weren't playing the best football. Every week was a challenge just to get back to playing dominant football-the kind of football we know we’re capable of.”
That kind of honesty is rare, and it tells you a lot about what was happening behind the scenes. Mailata went on to describe how the season forced him into a period of reflection-on his leadership, his role in the locker room, and how he carried himself through the highs and lows.
“For me, that’s all I’ve been doing-dissecting every game, how I led, how I treated my teammates,” he said. “Trying to learn how to become a better leader heading into next year. That’s my biggest takeaway.”
And he’s not wrong to focus on leadership. Because 2025 wasn’t just about X’s and O’s-it was about a team that looked like it was carrying the weight of trying to live up to its own legacy.
From the outside, the Eagles were under a microscope. Every move, every press conference, every sideline moment was amplified.
A.J. Brown’s headlines, Jalen Hurts' media buzz, even the offbeat stories like “Positivity Rabbits”-it all fed into a season where the noise was relentless.
But despite the distractions, this team still found a way to win 11 games and take the division. That’s a testament to the foundation that’s been built in Philly. Still, as Mailata hinted, the product on the field didn’t match the standard.
Offensively, the Eagles struggled mightily. They finished in the bottom half of the league in total offense, passing, rushing, and scoring-a far cry from the dominant units we’ve come to expect.
This is a team that’s made its name on being physical, creative, and explosive. In 2025, that identity just didn’t show up.
To their credit, the front office didn’t wait around. They’ve already begun reshaping the offensive side of the ball, starting with a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion.
It’s a move that signals a shift-not just in personnel, but in philosophy. The Eagles are looking to modernize their offense, bring fresh ideas to the table, and get back to dictating games instead of reacting to them.
If this feels familiar, it should. There are echoes of the 2023 season here-another year where expectations were sky-high and the results didn’t quite match.
But what matters now is what they do with the lessons learned. Mailata’s self-reflection is a microcosm of what the entire organization seems to be doing: looking inward, owning the shortcomings, and making the necessary changes.
Eagles fans have every reason to be cautiously optimistic. The talent is still there.
The leadership is evolving. And the hunger to get back to the top?
That’s as strong as ever.
We’ll see what 2026 brings, but one thing’s clear: Philly isn’t settling. They’re reloading.