Nakobe Dean wasn’t with the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday when they secured their spot in Super Bowl LIX by winning the NFC Championship. However, he was still very much part of the celebration.
Dean, the Eagles’ middle linebacker, was recovering from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in Los Angeles. His teammates made sure to keep him included by FaceTiming him from the winning locker room, where they saw his wide smile on the screen.
“It shows the connection of our team and how much we care for each other,” said Nolan Smith, a close friend and former college roommate of Dean. “Coach preaches connection, and we try to show it, not just talk about it.”
Before the team even made it into the locker room, head coach Nick Sirianni had a special moment with Dean on FaceTime, celebrating from the confetti-covered field.
Even though Dean wasn’t physically there, his teammates made sure to share the moment with him. “He’s a huge part of this,” said rookie Jalyx Hunt. “We wouldn’t be here without him.”
Dean, who had a standout 2024 season with 128 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 TFLs, 4 pass breakups, and a game-winning interception, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the wild-card win against the Packers. His recovery could keep him out for part of the 2025 season, but he remains a key presence in the locker room.
“He’s one of the heartbeats of the team,” said his teammate Zack Baun. “It hurt so bad not to have him out there, but he’ll be with us in New Orleans for sure. He means a lot to us.”
Dean is expected to join the Eagles in New Orleans for Super Bowl week, which will lift his teammates’ spirits as they continue their journey toward the championship.
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