May 23, 2026, 6:19 p.m. ET
Long snappers rarely generate headlines. That’s probably how everyone involved prefers it. Philadelphia Eagles fans are a little different, though. Conversations about every part of the roster move the needle. Still, if fans are discussing the long snapper on Sundays, something has almost certainly gone wrong. The position is built on anonymity, repetition, and precision.
Get the football where it needs to go, do it quickly, and disappear into the background. The Eagles didn’t enjoy that kind of quiet in 2025. Special teams stability at long snapper became more of a storyline than anyone wanted, which helps explain why Philadelphia entered the offseason determined to fix the issue.
Michael Clay likes what he has seen from Rocco Underwood
Enter Rocco Underwood, one of the members of the 2026 undrafted rookie free agent class. He’s one of the guys with one of the better chances to make the initial 53-man roster. No, conversations about rookie long snappers won’t dominate sports talk radio, but inside the Jefferson Health Complex, this stuff matters.
A clean field goal operation depends on timing, trust, and flawless execution between snapper, holder, and kicker. Even the slightest disruption can derail a possession, cost points, or alter a game. That’s why Michael Clay’s recent comments should register with anyone paying close attention. The Eagles’ special teams coordinator spoke with the media recently. He sounds genuinely encouraged by what he has seen from the undrafted rookie thus far.
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“Rocco, a couple of weeks in, he’s gelled well with the veteran guys. Athletic individual… He’s doing a really good job.”
Clay also pointed to Underwood’s background, specifically his time working under Joe Houston, whose NFL coaching experience helped prepare him for the demands of professional football. That’s a detail worth noting because Philadelphia didn’t simply bring in a random camp body to fill reps.
Underwood arrives with legitimate credentials, including a Patrick Mannelly Award, one handed annually to college football’s top long snapper. That doesn’t guarantee NFL success, but it certainly suggests the Eagles did their homework.
Of course, the real evaluation begins once pads come on, and actual rushers start flying into the protection unit, but early chemistry with Jake Elliott, Braden Mann, and the rest of the special teams operation is an encouraging sign. Long snappers are at their best when nobody notices them. If Underwood wins this job and performs exactly the way Philadelphia hopes, Eagles fans may never mention his name at all, and honestly, that would mean everything went exactly according to plan.