Thanks to a dominant defense with uncommon depth and playmaking ability, the season-ending injury to middle linebacker Nakobe Dean was one of the more glossed over stories during the Philadelphia Eagles’ run to Super Bowl LIX.
Not only was Dean enjoying a breakout season for the Eagles, but the injury occurred during the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs, on Jan. 12. That gives Dean about six months to recover before the team reconvenes for training camp in July, and the expectation is that he’ll start the year on the physically unable to perform list as he works his way back from a torn patellar tendon.
Dean has taken a unique path in his recovery, one forged by all-time greats like Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Herschel Walker and Lynn Swann.
Per an interview with NBC 10 Philadelphia, Dean revealed that he’s been training with BalletX in Philly with hopes of returning to the field at some point during the 2025 season.
"There's way more flexibility, of course. Way more mobility," Dean said. "It's definitely something that's helping with my rehab. … You just feel a change immediately. After you stretch, you're not as tight or as sore.”
Using ballet as cross training is an old-school approach made famous by Hall of Famers like Sanders and Payton. They used it to enhance endurance, balance and overall athleticism.
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Dean faces an uphill battle in 2025. Not only will he be coming off a major injury for the second straight year, but his rookie contract is set to expire after this season. The Eagles also traded up in the first round to select inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell during the 2025 NFL Draft, and doubled down with Georgia’s Smael Mondon Jr. in Round 5.
Philly is most likely preparing to move on in 2026, and Dean will need to show he’s back to 2024 form to compete for a strong second contract in free agency. We’ll see if training with BalletX can help him get there.
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