NFL executive compares Eagles LB duo to Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman

If there’s one thing Vic Fangio knows, it’s how to build a violent, downhill defense. And the Eagles are handing him the tools to do it — starting with Jihaad Campbell and Zack Baun, a pairing that’s already drawing comparisons to Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.

That’s not fan fiction. An NFL executive straight up told The Athletic that Fangio plans to use Baun “off the ball” and Campbell “on the ball,” unleashing both as blitzers in those nasty simulated pressures Fangio made famous. Sound familiar? That was the exact blueprint behind the 49ers’ dominant linebacker duo in the early 2010s — and now, it might be coming to life in midnight green.

Jihaad Campbell = The Hammer

Campbell, the Eagles’ first pick in this year’s draft, was the first true linebacker taken — and he’s already being labeled a “tone-setter” and “hammer” by execs. One of them even said Campbell received one of the highest linebacker grades they’ve ever given.

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He’s explosive, aggressive, and built for controlled violence — the kind of player who thrives when he’s turned loose. And in Fangio’s defense, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

There are some concerns — mainly with injuries and positional fit — but the Eagles clearly don’t share them. Fangio has a plan, and it sounds a lot like: drop the leash, go hit something.

Zack Baun = The Chess Piece

Pairing Campbell with Zack Baun makes this even more interesting. Baun, who re-signed with Philly in the offseason, has proven himself as one of the best off-ball backers in the league.

Together, Baun and Campbell will anchor the Eagles’ pressure packages — bringing disguised heat from all angles, just like Fangio did with Willis and Bowman back in San Francisco.

And no, no one’s crowning them Hall of Famers just yet. But the comparison isn’t about résumé — it’s about fit. These two might finally give Philly the linebacker identity it’s been chasing for a decade.

This is the New Eagles Defense

Throw in second-round safety Andrew Mukuba — a ball-hawking, physical presence in the secondary — and this Eagles draft class starts to feel like a turning point. They’re not just patching holes; they’re building an identity.

One that punches first, disguises everything, and makes quarterbacks question their life choices.

If Campbell and Baun live up to the vision, this Eagles defense might be even better than they were last season — something that feels impossible. But with these two holding down the middle of the field, it certainly is.