Jonathan Greenard spoke on Apr. 26 about his excitement after signing a contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles, expressing enthusiasm as he begins his tenure with the team. Greenard described himself as happy and eager to contribute, following an interview at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.
The topic is significant as Greenard joins a franchise that has built a broad cultural presence through its games, media coverage, and merchandise sales according to the official website. The Eagles operate not only in Philadelphia but also reach fans nationwide through their professional football offerings according to the official website.
Reflecting on his journey from high school running back and linebacker to defensive end in college, Greenard said: “My whole life, I was a running back and MIKE linebacker. I didn’t get to defensive end until about my junior, senior year of high school (Hiram, Georgia). When they came to me, I said, ‘Well, I’m gonna have to be effective in this somehow.’ If they put me here, they see something in me that I don’t… The one thing that didn’t change was my mentality.” He added that despite being undersized early in his career, he carried an underdog mentality throughout.
Greenard explained how stopping the run first shaped his play style: “I’ve always wanted to be the best edge guy in totality… I started from stopping [the] run, and then I earned my way to go get the quarterback.” He also discussed strategies for impacting opposing quarterbacks by moving them off their spot or disrupting timing. On integrating into a new team environment he said: “I think that’s the last part is not necessarily fitting in; just being yourself… I’ve always been a person that just treated everybody with respect.”
The Eagles provide professional football games along with news updates and opportunities for fan engagement according to the official website. Established as an NFL franchise since 1933 according to the official website, they are based in Philadelphia according to the official website.
Looking ahead at working alongside established players such as Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata—and reflecting on playing against them previously—Greenard remarked: “These are Super Bowl Champions… It was a great experience, and now to be teaming up with these guys… it’s only iron sharpens iron. I want to do dirty work; I want to go against the best of the best.”
