unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane

Throughout Brian Johnson’s formative football life, he’s always been a step ahead of the curve - both as a player and a coach. Now, in his first season as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, things don’t seem to be coming to him quite as quickly. But has all the criticism directed at him this year been fair, or is he just an easy scapegoat? With the 2023 season entering the home str...

Kenny Gainwell has a routine. Check the phone at halftime, send a text to his parents or girlfriend, get ready for the second half. But during the Philadelphia Eagles’ Oct. 29 game at Washington, he made the mistake of engaging with a frustrated fan who sent him a direct message. After the game, a screenshot of the exchange went public, and Gainwell and the Eagles had a mess on their hands. The in...

It was supposed to be a celebration, the start of a new era. By halftime, it was a complete disaster. Sporting their classic Kelly Green uniforms, the Eagles took the field for their 2010 debut against the Green Bay Packers buoyed by hope and new starting quarterback, Kevin Kolb. Midway through the second quarter, Kolb had suffered a concussion, and all of a sudden, years of planning were on the v...

The Eagles' defensive tackle rotation is stacked - anchored by blue chip talent. So how did Milton Williams, a former third-round pick, get in the mix? Far from a household name, Williams started to show signs of promise down the stretch last year, in 2022. Now, the Eagles think Williams is ready for a bigger role. Williams, though, has always believed in himself. His father has, too, maybe even m...

On the field, A.J. Brown is a fierce competitor; brash at times, and clearly one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Off the field, family, friends, and mentors see another side of the Pro Bowler. To them, he’s “Jay,” the mellow, somewhat introverted, humble kid from Starkville, Mississippi. Heck, his mom even calls him a “homebody.” But when it comes to the Eagles’ prospects for 2023 and their...

The 2023 NFL season is almost here, and the Eagles have a huge question to answer: Can they not only get back to the Super Bowl, but this time win it? A year ago, the Eagles came so close to clinching their second-ever championship. There’s no reason to think they can’t contend again. But for as promising as the Eagles’ prospects are, not everything is cut and dry. Key coaches have been replaced....

You hear him before you see him. That’s the type of person Brandon Graham is, and personality he has. From his signature cackle to his infectious energy, the Pro Bowler’s vibes permeate all levels of the Philadelphia Eagles organization. Over the last 13 years, Graham has experienced a lot with the team —  the end of the Andy Reid era; Chip Kelly’s subsequently tumultuous tenure; the franchise’s f...

The NFL is known for a lot, but international diversity is low on the list. So how did an Indian-American land one of the most prominent gigs on the Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff? Sean Desai’s success is unequivocally an immigrant story, one underscored by hard work, long odds, and the support of family and friends. But for as much as he recognizes the historic nature of his ascent, Desai wa...

There’s nothing harder to find in professional sports than a franchise quarterback. It’s a pursuit that all 32 NFL teams obsess over. The Eagles, though, are convinced that for the second time in less than a decade, they’ve got their guy, and are willing to pay a hefty price to keep him around for the long term. But after whiffing on Carson Wentz, why is the Eagles’ brain trust of owner Jeffrey Lu...

Remember Cary Williams? The former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback who one time missed voluntary team workouts to pick out sconces for his home? He was a fiery guy, a passionate player who could also be defiant, antagonistic, and defensive. By and large, during his stint with the Eagles, he was probably known just as much for his personality as he was for his play on the field. But if all you heard...

Jason Babin was a hell-raiser. On and off the field. It’s a quality that made him both a crippling force on the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive line, and, at times, a combative presence inside the team’s locker room. His skill set was tailor-made for a specific style of play, and his personality was a perfect fit for Jim Washburn, the assistant who coached him. But back in 2012, the duo found itsel...

All-pros are important. But every good NFL team needs a couple colorful characters, too. These are the players who know when and how to set the right mood in the locker room and keep things light. For the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles that ultimately won Super Bowl 52, Beau Allen was one of those guys. Beau was a solid defensive lineman who filled an important role. He also came to appreciate the funny...

Getting drafted in the first round is the dream scenario for just about any aspiring football player. But for former Philadelphia Eagle Marcus Smith, it was a total nightmare, full of hellish professional and personal consequences. What if Smith, a prolific defensive sack artist in college chosen no. 26 overall in 2014, had been taken in the second or third round? What if he’d been drafted by anot...

With a month to go in the 2014 NFL season, and in less than two years on the job, Chip Kelly had the Philadelphia Eagles positioned for a potential Super Bowl run. Then, everything fell apart. The Eagles lost three in a row, slipped out of contention, and missed the playoffs entirely. But instead of Kelly landing on the head coaching hot seat, the exact opposite happened: Eagles owner Jeffrey Luri...

Ten years ago, during the 2013 offseason, there was no sexier NFL head coaching hire than the Eagles landing Chip Kelly. At the college level, Kelly was considered an innovator - an uptempo offensive mastermind and sports science guru. And guess what? After orchestrating a dramatic turnaround and leading the Eagles back to the playoffs for the first time in three years, Kelly seemed worthy of the...

What’s it like to play offensive line in the NFL? According to Lane Johnson, not much fun. The Philadelphia Eagles’ right tackle is widely regarded as one of the best players at his position in the league. He’s won a Super Bowl and earned multiple All-Pro nods, but when he talks about his gig, he doesn’t paint a rosy picture. Pressure. Paranoia. Pain. Johnson feels like he’s living in his own horr...

You’re a former Philadelphia Eagles player with career earnings in the millions. Then, you lose 60% of your net worth. What do you do next? Roll the dice some more, of course. His tactics might change, but make no mistake about it - Evan Mathis is a gambler at heart. Heck, he probably never would have become an All-Pro offensive lineman if he didn't have this mindset. He started taking risks at a...

Hosted by Jeff McLane,  unCovering the Birds  brings you stories you might not have heard about the football team that makes you bleed green. McLane has spent the last decade and a half breaking news, digging up scoops, and delivering readers of  The Philadelphia Inquirer  award-winning Philadelphia Eagles coverage. On  unCovering the Birds,  he’ll take you behind the scenes and into the world of...