Philly Leader

Offensive lineman Matt Pryor has returned to the Philadelphia Eagles, signing a one-year contract and marking his return to the NovaCare Complex for the first time since 2021. Pryor was initially drafted by the Eagles in the sixth round in 2018 and played in 27 games before being traded to the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons. He then spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears.

"It's great to be back, kind of made it full circle," Pryor stated after signing his contract. He expressed the stress of free agency but felt content with how things worked out. "Obviously, free agency is a little stressful for everybody. Don't know which way you're going to go or if you're even going to go anywhere. But everything works out how it's supposed to and God-willing, I ended up back over here."

Pryor, who joined the NFL alongside Eagles' left tackle Jordan Mailata, has remained in contact with Mailata and right tackle Lane Johnson. He was ranked eighth among NFL guards in 2024 with a pass blocking grade of 78.1 and was the No. 21 ranked guard according to PFF. Pryor said he has matured and developed through his experiences with different teams. "Just a better understanding of the game as a whole. Understanding defenses, getting a better feel for your offensive scheme," Pryor said. He credited Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland for emphasizing key skills like technique and footwork.

In 2024, Pryor started 15 games for the Bears, playing a total of 895 snaps at right guard and 59 snaps at right tackle without allowing any quarterback hits. At 6-foot-7 and 332 pounds, Pryor is eager to contribute to the team, aiming for a starting position but ready to fill any role required. "I'm just going to do what I can for the team. If it ends up being on the starting row – perfect. Just going to be patient, put the work in, keep my head down, and wait for the outcome," he said.