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Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun: One man's journey from benchwarmer to game-changer
At this point last season, linebacker Zack Baun was an afterthought, seemingly destined to follow in the footsteps of countless college standouts who failed to replicate similar success at the professional level.
Now, Baun is preparing to play a critical role in Super Bowl LIX as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Reflecting on one of this season's most amazing NFL storylines, DAZN News charts Baun's incredible journey from obscurity to stardom.
College career
As a redshirt freshman in 2016, Baun played sparingly for the Wisconsin Badgers, managing just 15 tackles and a forced fumble.
Baun looked likely to take on a more significant role in 2017 after former teammate T.J. Watt decided to forego his senior year and join the NFL, but a broken foot caused him to miss the entire year.
Demonstrating the mental fortitude that would later define his NFL career, Baun was motivated by his absence and returned to the field in 2018 to lead the Badgers in pressures.
The Wisconsin native used his promising 2018 campaign as a springboard to even greater success in his senior year, leading the team with 12.5 sacks.
Baun had such an impressive year that, as the 2020 NFL Draft approached, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein suggested he could be a first-round talent.
Unfortunately, perhaps wary of his checkered injury history, several teams passed over Baun on draft night. He endured an agonising wait to hear his name called before the New Orleans Saints traded up to select him with the 74th overall pick.
Four quiet years with the New Orleans Saints
With Cameron Jordan as their lone elite edge rusher, the Saints initially appeared to be an ideal fit for Baun.
However, when talking about his latest acquisition, head coach Sean Payton made it clear that he planned to use Baun in an off-ball linebacker role.
The most challenging aspect for any edge rusher transitioning to off-ball linebacker is mastering their responsibilities in pass defense. Baun's lack of experience in that role was evident, as he spent less than 14 per cent of his college snaps dropping into coverage.
Facing the proposition of a position change might unsettle most players, but not Baun.
Unfortunately, Baun's early excitement appeared misplaced. Over the next four years, he mostly watched from the sidelines as the Saints entrusted Alex Anzalone, Kwon Alexander, and Pete Werner with the majority of snaps behind established starter Demario Davis.
Baun reborn with the Philadelphia Eagles
Nakobe Dean was the only viable starting linebacker on the Eagles' roster as the 2024 offseason got underway, and he had yet to become the player the Eagles envisaged when they selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
While the Eagles were looking to improve their linebacker group, Baun’s signing was mostly seen as a depth addition.
Days later, the Eagles signed former All-Pro linebacker Devin White as the presumed starter alongside Dean. Once again, it appeared Baun faced an uphill climb to earn a significant role on the defense.
However, Baun refused to be denied, and the Eagles defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, took notice of his early contributions.
The praise kept coming, this time from head coach Nick Sirianni.
Despite making a solid first impression, questions about Baun's role persisted as the season neared, with the Eagles' initial depth chart naming four linebackers as co-starters.
Any uncertainty about Baun's role was short-lived once the season got underway, as he took the field as the starter in the Eagles' season opener.
The then-27-year-old took full advantage of his opportunity.
Once again, Sirianni took note.
Baun's critics dismissed his debut performance as a one-off, sceptical that he could sustain that level of effectiveness throughout the season.
He answered his doubters in a way that left no room for doubt, finishing the regular season ranked fifth among all linebackers with 151 tackles, first with five forced fumbles, and tied sixth in sacks.
While production doesn't always correlate with performance, Pro Football Focus, who grade every snap of every player in every game, ranked Baun first among the 130 linebackers who played at least 100 snaps in 2024.
Few would fault Baun for not maintaining his regular-season form throughout the playoffs against the league's elite, but he has remained one of the Eagles' top playmakers in the postseason.
Baun's remarkable performances have played a pivotal role in putting the Eagles on the brink of history in Super Bowl LIX.
For him, this isn't just another game -it's the culmination of an extraordinary, against-all-odds journey.
Reaching the Super Bowl is already an impressive feat, but a victory would be the perfect ending to Baun's incredible story, solidifying his legacy in the most unforgettable way possible.
- Read next | Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles: Super Bowl LIX defensive position groups compared
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