Jihaad Campbell had perfect reaction to landing with Eagles on Day 1 of NFL Draft

Ryan OLeary

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Jihaad Campbell had perfect reaction to landing with Eagles on Day 1 of NFL Draft image

When Jihaad Campbell got the call late on Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, he charged out of the green room, almost skipping down the tunnel towards the stage. As he passed the Philadelphia Eagles logo, he slapped the wall emphatically with two hands.

The reigning Super Bowl champs got their guy in Round 1, and judging by Campbell's reaction, it was a match made in heaven. The star linebacker from Alabama looked ready to fly straight to Philly on Thursday night.

This will be a homecoming of sorts for Campbell, who grew up in South Philly and played high school ball at Timber Creek Regional before transferring to national powerhouse IMG Academy. He probably wasn’t supposed to fall to the 31st pick in the draft, but injuries, including surgery for a torn labrum, created an incredible value for GM Howie Roseman and Co.  They left nothing to chance, sending the Kansas City Chiefs an extra fifth-round pick to move up one spot and land their top target.

"When you're in a draft and you're picking at the end of the first round, you don't have an opportunity to get a top-10 player on your board," Roseman told reporters Thursday night. "A guy who can affect the quarterback, a guy who can affect the passing game... for us, it was a no-brainer."

MORE: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Top 250 big board

There is nothing on the football field that Campbell doesn’t do well. The recently turned 21-year-old was a rock for Alabama’s defense, finishing the 2024 season with 112 tackles (including 11.5 for loss), five sacks and an interception. He’s cut from the same mold as Zack Baun, who manned Philly’s off-ball linebacker spot at an All-Pro level last season, so it remains to be seen how Vic Fangio will deploy his new chess piece. Kicking him outside to the EDGE certainly can’t be ruled out for the 6-foot-3, 244-pound game-wrecker.

Campbell has the confidence and versatility to hit the ground running with the reigning Super Bowl champs. By all accounts, Philly’s on track to crush draft weekend once again.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.