Fresh off a win against the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles rookies visited Rudolph Blankenburg Elementary School in West Philadelphia to host a Mobile Jr. Pro introductory football clinic. The event was part of the Eagles’ Community Tuesday initiative and lasted more than an hour, featuring seven different drills for local students.
The young athletes were coached directly by Eagles players at various stations. Activities included weaving through hurdles, catching passes, and running agility ladders. Each station had about two Eagles players working with groups of around 20 students.
At the end of the event, linebacker Jihaad Campbell addressed the campers: “It’s always about having fun and doing something that you love,” Campbell said. “You see me with a smile on my face when I’m here because I love football and I love everything about the game – my teammates, my coaches, everything. A lot of people helped me along the way and I’m thankful for that, and I’m going to always have a smile on my face making my dream come true.”
Cornerback Mac McWilliams spoke about connecting with local youth: “It means a lot, man, just being a rookie, getting to know the community and letting the community know you, that’s the biggest part,” McWilliams said. “… It’s just a blessing for the kids. I always wanted to be in this position, especially when I was a kid.”
Defensive tackle Ty Robinson shared his perspective from growing up in Nebraska: “Everything really resonates well with me, being able to give back and just be thankful for the opportunities that I’ve been given to be put in a place like this to now, where I am able to impact somebody’s life,” Robinson said. “Maybe I don’t know how big of an impact it is, but to them, it’s everything. To me, at the end of the day, if that means the world to them, then I’d do it 100 times over.”
During a Q&A session after drills concluded, safety Andrew Mukuba reflected on mentorship following his recent interception against Patrick Mahomes: “I had a mentor in my life who helped me. I know I had to be responsible for all of my actions,” Mukuba said. “You all worked hard today and you had fun, and that is the way it’s supposed to be. Keep going. Keep having fun. Keep working hard.”
Wide receiver Darius Cooper added advice for students: “Listen to the people who care about you – your parents, especially. They’re the ones who love you and want the best for you. It isn’t easy but chase your dreams and don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t reach your dreams. Take care of your grades and just enjoy it all.”
