Philly Leader

Zack Baun, a player for the Philadelphia Eagles, finds himself in an unusual position this Wild Card Sunday. Despite his accomplishments on the field, Baun's hometown of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, remains loyal to their own team rather than fully supporting the Eagles. "There's a lot of conflicting fandom. I'm surprised by that," Baun expressed about the divided loyalty of fans who support their home state team.

Baun's performance this season has been notable. In a game held in Brazil at the start of the season, he achieved 15 tackles and two sacks, contributing to the Eagles' victory against Green Bay with a score of 34-29. This achievement made him one of only six players since 1982 to record such statistics in a single game.

Throughout his first year as an off-ball linebacker, Baun accumulated 150 tackles and ranked third in the league. He also recorded 5.5 sacks, among other contributions, earning him recognition as the highest-graded linebacker by Pro Football Focus and a first-team All-Pro title from The Associated Press.

Head Coach Nick Sirianni praised Baun's dedication: "Zack is just a guy that's tough, physical, loves football." Sirianni commended both Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and Inside Linebackers Coach Bobby King for their roles in developing Baun's skills.

Reflecting on individual accolades versus team success, Baun stated: "Individual awards are what they are. I'm really proud of what we're able to do as a defense this year." The Eagles excelled defensively this season under his contribution but still faced challenges like allowing high yardage during games.

As Baun prepares for his second playoff game—his first was during COVID restrictions—he emphasizes consistency within the team as advised by Coach Sirianni: "It's the same routine... if you start changing your routines... you're treating the game different."

Baun is eager for the playoff atmosphere and looks forward to potentially disappointing some Packers fans from his hometown: "I'm excited for it," he said about playing before an energetic crowd during postseason play.