unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane

To run or not to run? With Jalen Hurts entering his fifth season as the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback, the question becomes increasingly pertinent. Listen, there’s no doubting the dynamic that Hurts’ legs bring to the Eagles’ offense. For proof, look no further than the backbreaking scrambles he delivered in the team’s dominant Super Bowl victory over Kansas City in February. But as Hurts approaches his 27th birthday (August 7th), while already having reached the notable milestone of 75 career starts, his workload on the ground relative to his peers around the NFL takes on greater significance. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane begins his journey through the Eagles’ 2025 season by examining Hurts’ role in the run game. Plus, on the heels of Jeff Stoutland receiving a deserved award, Jeff shares a couple stories about the revered offensive line coach, and ponders how much longer Stoutland might stay on the job. 00:00 Will Jalen Hurts run less this season? 15:05 The legend of Jeff Stoutland continues to grow unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

How prepared are the Eagles to defend their Super Bowl title? This question likely won’t get answered until the regular season kicks off in a few months. Odds are, it might even take longer than that; a few games, perhaps, to gauge the Eagles’ 2025 potential. But one thing is for sure: NFL teams begin building their DNA and habits in the spring through organized team activities and minicamps. With the Eagles having wrapped up their workouts earlier this week, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane takes account of everything he saw and heard down at Eagles headquarters, and, based on early tea leaves, forecasts what to expect going into training camp - especially on defense, where coordinator Vic Fangio will once again have to manage substantial personnel turnover. 00:00 “Fake news” 05:18 Will this be Jordan Davis’ year? 11:09 Bye bye Bryce Huff; hello new opportunities for edge rushers 16:12 Jihad Campbell update 19:49 Cooper DeJean could have dual role 23:43 Replacing C.J. Gardner-Johnson 27:45 What to expect from offense unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

There are lots of sources you can go to for comprehensive NFL Draft analysis, but there’s only one Mike Mayock. The suburban Philadelphia native and The Haverford School graduate played a few years in the league after a strong stint at Boston College, but his biggest claim to fame is indisputably as a draft expert. Between his seemingly endless familiarity with prospects and an ability to articulate their fits with NFL teams, Mayock has earned a reputation as a go-to draft guru. So, that’s who The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane turned to when he wanted to go in-depth on the Eagles’ 2025 draft picks. From the move up to nab Alabama's Jihaad Campbell to rumblings that other general managers were reluctant to do deals with Howie Roseman, Mayock examines the Eagles’ rookies with two questions in mind: do they have the potential to positively impact the franchise’s title defense, and can they make up for talent lost earlier in the offseason? 00:00 Tackling the Eagles’ moves in the 2025 NFL Draft with analyst Mike Mayock 04:03 First-round pick Jihaad Campbell: where to play him and injury concerns 12:28 Second-round selection Andrew Mukuba: does size really matter? 19:45 Don’t sleep on the third-day prospects 26:05 What’s been Howie Roseman’s secret to drafting quality starters in recent years? 33:47 Rumor or real life: Are other GMs avoiding trades with Roseman? unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

Imagine this: you’ve got an exclusive, high-profile, high-pressure gig; only 31 other people on the planet do what you do. You’re on vacation; your regular spot in a relatively obscure location. Then, off in the distance, you see someone familiar approaching. Could it really be one of your professional peers, out for a leisurely bike ride in the same vacation town? A little more than a decade ago, longtime Baltimore Ravens executive Ozzie Newsome and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman weren’t close. A chance encounter along the Alabama gulf shore changed that, and sowed the seeds for a valuable friendship - personal and professional - between the two NFL personnel men. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane examines the role that Newsome’s mentorship and other key moments in Roseman’s life have played in propelling the Eagles’ GM to the top of his profession. 00:00 A chance encounter with Howie Roseman 04:38 Jake Rosenberg reflects on life with a young Howie 06:47 What makes Roseman a great GM? 13:54 In lockstep with Jeffrey Lurie 18:50 The Chip Kelly crisis 28:18 Another shot 36:24 Roseman’s legacy unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

The weather in Palm Beach during the annual NFL owners meetings was touch-and-go by South Florida standards. One attendee, however, was certainly shining brighter than most. Yes, Jeffrey Lurie, on the heels of his Philadelphia Eagles winning a second Super Bowl title in seven years, was aglow. Not only that, his public comments sent a clear message to the rest of the league: he expects the franchise to keep winning, and winning big. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane reads between the lines of Lurie's remarks at the owners meetings, and also sits down with Sportsradio WIP’s Hugh Douglas, who recently aired some thoughts on his show about Jeff's personality. 00:00 Jeff addresses his supposed "dry" personality 05:28 Hugh Douglas explains his comments, talks Eagles 24:14 A debrief from the NFL owners meetings unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

We know Howie Roseman is passionate. Obsessive, too. These traits have revealed themselves constantly throughout his 15-year tenure as the Philadelphia Eagles’ general manager, propelling him to the top of his profession. The characteristics, however, show up in other parts of his life as well, specifically one of his favorite endeavors away from the game. Join The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLaneas he chats with Roseman about his “other” big obsession, and explores how it overlaps and has become intertwined with his day job - building a championship-winning roster for one of the most successful NFL franchises in the last decade. 00:00 Howie Roseman's other obsession 05:10 A serious eater 09:13 The origins of a foodie 15:53 How Roseman's football and foodie worlds intertwine unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

It’s been a little more than a month since the Philadelphia Eagles smashed the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. While the Eagles’ front office has been forced to move on from the victory rather quickly due to a flurry of offseason activity, the afterglow from the team’s second championship run still remains strong. A recent live taping of unCovering the Birds between The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Eagles Radio Network analyst Mike Quick demonstrated as much. At FitlerClub in Center City, the duo discussed plenty of topical items, from recent free agency developments to new coaching hires, but also put key storylines from the Eagles’ 2024 title run into perspective: Where does Jalen Hurts belong in conversations about elite NFL quarterbacks? How has Nick Sirianni become so effective at his job in such a relatively short period of time? And what makes Saquon Barkley one of Mike’s favorite all-time Eagles? Plus, Jeff and Mike take questions from the audience. Listen to hear great stories from the Eagles’ historic season, and find out if Jeff and Mike think the team is capable of bringing another parade to Broad Street next year. 05:16 Reaction to recent free agency developments 19:17 How Nick Sirianni is evolving and maturing as an NFL head coach 24:22 Is there any reason why Jalen Hurts should not be considered an elite NFL quarterback? 27:22 Kevin Patullo has never called plays in the NFL; should we be concerned? 33:12 Why Saquon Barkley instantly became one of Mike’s favorite Eagles 46:19 Rapid fire 52:00 Jeff’s big reveal to Mike, audience Q&A unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

The scouting combine. It’s the NFL’s ultimate mixer. Every year, prospects, powerbrokers, pundits, and aspiring professionals in the football industry descend on Indianapolis at the end of February for a week of talent evaluation, networking, and late nights. The TV networks covering the combine want you to see the drills, testing, and player soundbites. The reality, though, is that the real action takes place outside of public view, as covert conversations begin to shape the offseason’s juiciest storylines. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane is a veteran of the combine. From the corridors of Lucas Oil Stadium to the white cloth-covered tables at the legendary St. Elmo Steakhouse, tag along for an immersive, behind-the-scenes glimpse at one of the NFL’s busiest, high-profile events. 00:00 Behind the scenes at the NFL Combine 26:37 Who's next? Eagles that need to step up in 2025 unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.

What was the post-game celebration like inside the locker room and beyond? Who kept the festivities going way into the early hours of the morning? In the afterglow of the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, it was time to party, and the Eagles didn’t let the well-earned opportunity pass them by. From the mellow yet gratified vibes of the team’s defensive guru to the veteran who wanted to savor the championship feeling a little longer a second time around, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane gives you a fly-on-the wall glimpse of over six hours of Eagles’ revelry in New Orleans. Featuring interviews with owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman, defensive end Brandon Graham, and more. unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.

The last time Carson Wentz was in a Super Bowl, he was on the wrong end of a fairy tail script - injured and watching from the sideline as Philadelphia Eagles’ back-up quarterback Nick Foles led the franchise to its first ever title, finishing the job that Wentz started during the regular season before getting hurt. This year, should anything happen to Kansas City starter Patrick Mahomes, Wentz, now the Chiefs’ second-stringer, would be a snap away from being summoned to create a little magic of his own and help the team three-peat. During Super Bowl week in New Orleans, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane spent some time with Wentz, who he hadn’t interviewed in four years. Hear what the former Eagles’ no. 2 draft pick has to say about his outlook for the future, and how the passing of time has allowed him to put his stint in Philadelphia in perspective. Plus, in a new “Pick Six” segment, Jeff chats with Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens about the art of making beef jerky and life on his family’s farm. Jeff also previews some of the key X’s and O’s ahead of Sunday’s clash at Caesars Superdome, and gives his prediction for the game. 00:00 Catching up with Carson Wentz 17:55 “Pick Six” with Cam Jurgens 24:40 Super Bowl 59 matchups and prediction unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season.