Every good story has its underdog. We in Philly have a particular fondness for Underdogs. Rocky became a Folk Hero in this city. The Eagles won their first Super Bowl with a band of misfits and backups, conquering the goliath that was Tom Brady and the Patriots.

A whole mantra of that team was being underdogs. They wore dog masks and reveled in the idea people doubted them. Being doubted was the crux of Jason Kelce’s iconic parade speech. Apart from just being the team that got us our first Super Bowl parade, their underdog status is a huge reason why this town connected with that team so much. Nick Foles was the ultimate underdog, and he outdueled the GOAT.

This Eagles team are not underdogs though. The Chiefs are betting favorites, but barely. The Eagles have done nothing but win since the Calander turned to October. Until this Superbowl, they were favored by at least 6 points in each of their games by kickoff.

(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Related: The Eagles Are 1 Of The Best Run Organizations In Pro Sports

They are the most talented team in the league and have played like it for several months. Yes, there are some haters in the National media, but even ESPNs own analytics predicts the Eagles to win. It currently gives the Eagles a 56% chance to win.

That said, while the team as a whole is not an underdog, there are underdogs on the team we can still get our underdog fix from. Guys who came from seemingly nowhere to be heroes of this run. Guys who were maybe deemed busts, or doubted, only to play lights out this season on the road to New Orleans.

Some of these guys might no longer be underdogs but started out their career as one. Some are still doubted to this day. Some even Philly fans didn’t see coming this season

Here Are 6 Unlikely Heroes Of The Eagles Road To The Super Bowl

• Zack Baun

  Nobody but Vic Fangio saw Baun coming this year. He was mostly a Special Teams player and rotational Edge Rush for the Saints. But Vic saw talent in him right away. In his first Press conference, the Eagles DC shocked everyone by describing Baun as one of the Eagles’ best LBs. People were perplexed at the time, but clearly Fangio knows what he is talking about. Baun has forced 6 fumbles now, leads the league in Run Stops, and has been shut down in coverage for the most part.

  There is a real argument to call him the best LB in Football period and he was on no one’s radar before it started. It doesn’t get more underdog than that. I can just imagine Kelce screaming “Zack Baun Can’t play Inside Linebacker.”

  

• Jordan Mailata

  Jordan Mailata is widely regarded as one of the best LTs in the league. No one was surprised he has been great this season. But his origins are still that of an underdog, and I am not sure if that will ever change. Much like people still talk about Kurt Warner going from bag boy to Hall of Famer, the story of Mailata going from never playing Football to being an All-Pro in the span of several years is something that will always follow him. 

  Jordan Mailata has talked about it. He knew next to nothing about Football when he entered the draft. He was one of those people who only watched one Football game a year, the Super Bowl. He was a complete blank slate, albiet a very large and very fast blank slate. Now he is arguably the best LT in the league. Underdog stories don’t get much better than that. 

  Geoff Schwartz on X (formerly Twitter): "Jeff Stoutland's finest work (LT) just rag dolling his defender. Jordan Mailata is awesome pic.twitter.com/KNVvO0jMzX / X"

  Jeff Stoutland's finest work (LT) just rag dolling his defender. Jordan Mailata is awesome pic.twitter.com/KNVvO0jMzX

• Nolan Smith

  Nolan Smith was once the number 1 recruit in the Nation. The Eagles spent a 1st round pick on him. So he is not your typical underdog. But a poor rookie season, partially caused by a pre-season injury, plus a slow start to this season, had many people, myself included, doubting if Smith would live up to the hype. Combine that with a lack of production dating back to Georgia, and a guy who had always been considered the best in his class suddenly found himself as an underdog.

  It suited him. Because after the bye week, he took off. 6.5 sacks over the final 12 games, and now 4 sacks so far in the playoffs, bringing him to 10.5 total over his last 16 games. He is also playing the run well and forced a fumble against the Rams. He now has the most sacks by an Eagle player in a single season and is a sack away from tying Brandon Graham for the most playoff sacks in franchise history. 

  They badly needed him to step up with Haason Reddick gone, Bryce Huff being a bust, and Brandon Graham hurt. He has done so in a big way. Not only playing at a high level but playing nearly every snap with the Eagles edge depth being limited to 3 players. It is not your typical underdog story. 

  NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "Nolan Smith gets home to sack Daniels for a turnover on downs!📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KECfzkZnZ5 / X"

  Nolan Smith gets home to sack Daniels for a turnover on downs!📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KECfzkZnZ5

• Mekhi Becton

  Makhi Becton had 1 foot outside of the league coming into the year. He was drafted 11th overall by the Jets and had an impressive rookie season. But after that, he could not stay on the field. Knee injuries haunted him in 2021 and 2022, with him playing just 1 game in 2 years. He was healthy in 2023 but did not play well. The Jets had seen enough, and let him go after that,

  Becton has talked about how Football stopped being fun for him. He admitted to being in a bad place. His career could have easily continued to veer off a cliff. Instead, he enrolled in Stotuland University. From the start of camp, it quickly became clear he was going to beat out Tyler Steen for the RG spot. Despite never playing Guard, that is exactly what he did, and apart from missing 2 games for injury, he has played RG all season for the Birds, and did so at a pretty high level. 

  Mike Garafolo on X (formerly Twitter): "Mekhi Becton paves the way for Saquon Barkley here. Two guys who relocated from North NJ to Philly this year. pic.twitter.com/ZW1AbI96Yh / X"

  Mekhi Becton paves the way for Saquon Barkley here. Two guys who relocated from North NJ to Philly this year. pic.twitter.com/ZW1AbI96Yh

• Milton Williams

  Milton Williams quickly became the subject of debate in Philly soon after he was drafted, and for a reason that was not his fault. A video of former Eagles Player Personnel Director Tom Donahoe pouting after the Eagles drafted Williams went viral. It came at a time when many fans were not in love with Howie Roseman, and it led to many Eagles fans doubting the pick. Turns out Donahoe was wrong, and Milton Williams is a star.

  Williams has been a force while playing next to Jalen Carter, 5 sacks and 40 pressures. Sadly it likely earned him a bigger deal elsewhere, and the Super Bowl will be his final game in Philly win or lose. But Williams is a big reason why the Eagles defense is as good as it has been.

  Nate Tice on X (formerly Twitter): "Milton Williams ranked 2nd in pressure rate among NFL DTs this season, per @NextGenStats. He also ranked 6th in positive rush rate among all qualifying DTs.Here he is winning against Elgton Jenkins to get a 3rd down pressure yesterday. pic.twitter.com/c7CSK6Wh7v / X"

  Milton Williams ranked 2nd in pressure rate among NFL DTs this season, per @NextGenStats. He also ranked 6th in positive rush rate among all qualifying DTs.Here he is winning against Elgton Jenkins to get a 3rd down pressure yesterday. pic.twitter.com/c7CSK6Wh7v

• Jalen Hurts

  Jalen Hurts has done nothing but win since he became the Eagles starter. In 4 years he has made the playoffs 4 times, won the NFC East twice, and made the Super Bowl twice. He is 3rd in wins in that time, has the 6th most total yards, and has the 4th most total TDs. The last time he played in the Super Bowl he had one of the best QB performances we have ever seen. 

  And yet, he still is the constant subject of doubt. National Shows, and some Local Shows, have done whole weeks about how he is not good enough to win. Despite him hardly ever losing. 

  People will quote his low-counting stats. But they ignore that he is 5th in Yards Per Attempt. People will say he is carried by the roster around him, but then act like other QBs aren’t benefited by talented teammates. But here he is again, the leader of a team 1 win away from the Super Bowl. Eventually, he will get more credit for doing the most important thing you have to do in the NFL. Winning. 

  First Things First on X (formerly Twitter): ""Jalen Hurts has been underappreciated in doing the things that it takes to win."- @kevinwildes pic.twitter.com/2HYSnomFgy / X"

  "Jalen Hurts has been underappreciated in doing the things that it takes to win."- @kevinwildes pic.twitter.com/2HYSnomFgy

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