Ben VanSumeren is set to play a central role in the Philadelphia Eagles’ plans to reintroduce the fullback position into their offense. After initially joining the team as a linebacker in 2023 and later moving to fullback, VanSumeren signed a one-year contract with the Eagles in March. He will now focus on fullback duties and contribute on special teams.
Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie outlined the team’s intention earlier this year, stating, “We are going to try to resurrect the fullback position,” during a call with SportsRadio 94WIP honoring retired player Brandon Graham.
VanSumeren welcomed his new role after recovering from a season-ending knee injury last year. “I told them, when we were deciding which side of the ball I’m going to be playing going forward, I just asked, ‘What is it that you think I’m going to excel at and be the best at?’ They said, ‘It’s fullback,’ and it’s something I am looking forward to and I’m happy to do,” he said. “It is something that really never left me. It really feels natural. It’s something I did growing up and it is something I did in college as well (at Michigan as a freshman before moving to linebacker there and at Michigan State) and so there has never been a time where I felt I had to knock the rust off.”
Last season, VanSumeren played 22 snaps at fullback for the Eagles and made one reception before his injury. The coaching staff sees him as adding flexibility for offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s schemes, especially with running back Saquon Barkley leading the backfield.
The Eagles’ rushing attack was strong last year even without extensive use of a fullback, achieving a franchise-record 3,048 yards in the regular season. Saquon Barkley earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors after running for 2,005 yards—ranking eighth all-time for single-season rushing yards.
Fullbacks have become rare across NFL offenses; only four teams used them significantly in 2024. Kyle Juszczyk led all players at the position with 537 offensive snaps for San Francisco last season. Other notable contributors included Baltimore’s Patrick Ricard (495), Miami’s Alec Ingold (337), and Dallas’ Hunter Luepke (328).
VanSumeren commented on this trend: “I think it’s kind of cool that maybe teams are using the position more,” he said. “It’s something I love to play and it can impact the offense in a lot of ways. I’m still learning our offense and how we plan to attack teams and that is exciting for me. Having played linebacker in the NFL helps me see things at fullback in terms of blocking and route running – leverage, understanding what a defensive player wants you to do, and then figuring out how to do the opposite of that.
“Definitely, playing linebacker helps me in this scenario. And hearing what Mr. Lurie said makes me grateful that there is a place for the position in this offense. I’m grateful that he said that. They’ve always believed in me, from the beginning. I’m grateful and ready to prove them right.”
He described blocking as key: “An elite blocker, an impact blocker at the point of attack,” VanSumeren explained regarding expectations for modern NFL fullbacks. “Everything that you do on top of that is really extra. I know I bring the receiving piece and I know my speed with the ball and my running with the ball is good as well. It all starts with blocking.”
After suffering an ACL tear prior to last season’s game against Baltimore, VanSumeren reports being physically improved through rehabilitation.
Before focusing on offense professionally, he shifted between positions during college due to his athleticism—starting as a fullback at Michigan before switching primarily to defense both there and at Michigan State.
In preseason action last year as an Eagle linebacker he recorded 26 tackles over three games—including 17 tackles against New York—and became active on special teams across nine regular-season contests.
The franchise has seen several successful fullbacks throughout its history such as Keith Byars, Kevin Turner, Jon Ritchie, and Leonard Weaver.
Looking ahead toward preseason play beginning August 7 against Cincinnati at Lincoln Financial Field (broadcast locally by NBC10), VanSumeren expressed enthusiasm about returning fully healthy: “I’m excited because it’s been a while since I’ve been able to really hit somebody in a different jersey… We’re going to step between the white lines in a game setting… The more reps you get, the better it’s going to be… We’ve talked [with Barkley] and he loves two-back runs and I love blocking for him…”
