Eighteen months ago, Zack Baun signed a one-year deal with the Eagles.
Baun had spent his first four NFL seasons on the Saints but came to Philadelphia in part because of how his former teammate at Wisconsin, Andrew Van Ginkel, thrived under Vic Fangio with the Dolphins.
Van Ginkel became a standout edge rusher for Fangio, and that’s what Baun envisioned when inking his deal. Then, he got to the NovaCare Complex and was introduced to Inside Linebackers Coach Bobby King.
From there, the position switch was on.
“I’m like, ‘All right, let’s give it a shot,'” Baun said. “And my competitiveness was just like, ‘All right, I’m trying to make it. There’s a spot open and I need it to be me.'”
Baun earned that starting spot during Training Camp and never looked back. He had one of the most prolific seasons ever from an Eagles defender, being named an AP Defensive Player of the Year finalist and helping the Philadelphia Eagles win Super Bowl LIX.
It was a meteoric rise to stardom for Baun, who signed a lucrative three-year deal to return to Philadelphia and was voted a team captain before the season. Not often does a player start just 14 games across his first four seasons and then switch positions and immediately become an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, but Baun did just that.
Growing up in West Bend, Wisconsin, playing in the NFL wasn’t something Baun even dreamed about. Now, he’s a star in the league and is relishing every opportunity.
“I just played football because I loved it and I got to be out of the house with my friends and hanging out,” he said. “I’m just so thankful. I always try to take steps back and realize like, where I’m at, where I come from, what I’m doing, where I’m going. And just stay humble and appreciate my family through it all.”