Position Preview: Special Teams
The Eagles’ placekicking operation enjoyed immense success in the 2024 playoffs as Jake Elliott broke the NFL record for most points scored by a kicker in the Super Bowl (16) and established the team record for most points by a kicker in a postseason run (43).
There is a significant change to that process in 2025 as the Eagles signed Charley Hughlett in free agency. Hughlett comes to Philadelphia with 10 years of NFL experience, all with the Cleveland Browns. Until this past season, Hughlett had not missed a single game.
“The World Champions come calling, you’re going to go. I know there’s a track record of three Pro Bowlers in a row that have been here (Mike Bartrum, Jon Dorenbos, and Rick Lovato), so would love to add to that,” Hughlett said on Thursday. “My job is to make sure they are as successful as possible. So for me, it’s learning what they like. I want them to continue to do what they do because they’re very good at what they do and I want them to be as comfortable as possible, so I don’t want them to change a lot, I want to come in and adjust to them.”
Braden Mann enters his third season with the Eagles after joining early in the 2023 campaign. In addition to punting duties, Mann is the other part of the placekicking operation as the holder for Elliott. Mann didn’t waste time setting franchise records for both gross (49.8) and net (43.9) punting averages in his first year with the team.
“He’s a total professional,” Mann said of Hughlett. “It’s not so much catching snaps that’s totally different. It’s kind of just everything else pre-snap, post-snap, just kind of a rhythm thing.”
“We’re a new unit. It’s just kind of getting those reps in to make everything muscle memory. It’s been awesome,” Hughlett added.
At returner, Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay will utilize the preseason to sort out those roles. The team signed wide receiver Avery Williams in free agency, and Clay lauded the veteran’s ability as a personal protector in the punt return game. Clay also likes the idea of working in A.J. Dillon on kickoff returns.
“I guess I’d pose the question to you guys. Would you guys want to try to tackle a guy that’s 240 pounds running straight downhill at you?” Clay said. “But again, he has a ball in his hands a lot of the time. Ball security is imperative, especially on kickoff return.”
Cooper DeJean, Will Shipley, and Ainias Smith have return experience, along with newcomers like running back Keilan Robinson. – Chris McPherson