Eagles’ path to the Super Bowl was paved by the prowess of their offensive line
- NewsBlend360
- Feb 9
- 3 min read
By NEWS BLEND 360
Updated 1:14 PM EST, February 9, 2025
NEW ORLEANS (NB360) — Travis Kelce is a rare example of an offensive star who is deeply interested in his upcoming opponent’s offensive line.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end won’t be on the field simultaneously with Philadelphia’s offensive line during Sunday’s Super Bowl, but it’s personal for Kelce, since his brother, Jason, was the Eagles’ center for 13 years before retiring after last season.
Kansas City’s Kelce formed strong bonds with some of his brother’s former teammates and continues to watch their games.
“That offensive line — that’s the engine over there in Philly,” Travis Kelce said. “It’s going to be a challenging task to stop them.”
Kelce has focused particularly on Cam Jurgens, a starting guard for the Eagles in 2023 who this season stepped in to fill Jason’s former role.
“He’s done an incredible job this year taking charge and really being the central piece up front,” Travis Kelce said.
The Eagles arguably have the most formidable offensive front in football.
All five starters — Jurgens, guards Landon Dickerson and Mekhi Becton, and tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson — received NB360 All-Pro votes. Mailata and Johnson were named AP second-team All-Pro.
The group gets no small measure of credit for the success of a ground game that ranked second in the NFL this season with 179.3 yards per game and featured AP All-Pro running back and AP offensive player of the year Saquon Barkley.
Johnson has enjoyed the Eagles’ emphasis on running the ball.
“For the offensive line, pass blocking is like you’re dodging punches and run blocking is we’re throwing haymakers,” Johnson said. “I love it.”
The unit’s average height is 6-foot-6 and average weight is 338 pounds.
“You can’t coach size,” Mailata said. “So, that’s part of it — DNA ... pure body length and size of arms, size of hands.”
But Mailata stressed those attributes would mean less without coaches who can “translate that on the field.”
“That can only happen if you have the player and the coach on the same page,” Mailata said.
In his meeting room, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland likes to remind his unit that “no man is an island; you must draw your strength from others.”
“That’s the epitome of what an offensive lineman goes through,” Stoutland said. “Your job will not be done properly, or effectively, if the people next to you are not performing their job the way it’s been taught. ... You have to constantly depend on the man next to you.
“It’s important to have good talent,” Stoutland added. “But then, on top of that, there’s a mindset.”
The unit’s ability to work as one is embodied by one of its most effective plays, called either the tush push or “ brotherly shove.” The short-yardage quarterback keeper looks like a rugby scrum, although Mailata, an Australian who grew up playing rugby, says with a grin that in a scrum, “the other side usually pushes back.”
For Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, that play defines Philadelphia’s offensive line as unparalleled.
“Fourth-and-1, third-and-1, third-and-2 — they’re going to get it no matter what,” Nnadi remarked. “It’s a significant challenge trying to stop that.”
The play was already in place before first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore arrived and embraced it wholeheartedly.
“I just listened. I didn’t coach one bit,” Moore commented on that play. “It’s an exceptional play. There are many details and fundamentals involved.”
When Jurgens transitioned to center, Becton filled the gap at guard. Previously considered a draft disappointment, Becton was selected 11th overall by the New York Jets in 2020 but failed to meet expectations as a tackle, missed the 2022 season due to injury, and became a free agent after the Jets declined his fifth-year option.
Since Philadelphia signed Becton to a one-year contract, his career trajectory has significantly improved.
Becton stated that it wasn’t just the Eagles’ vision for him as a guard that enhanced his performance. It was also the support and recognition from coaches and teammates that boosted his confidence as both a person and player.
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