Ring Leader

PHILADELPHIA – Seated at the podium following the second training camp practice of the summer, Eagles linebacker Devin White notably mentioned on multiple occasions his ability to lead when self-assessing his best attributes.

White, signed to a moderate one-year deal in free agency, finds himself at the center of the team’s most highly scrutinized position group and will be tasked with elevating the unit to reputable levels.

Clouding the outlook a bit, perhaps, is the fact that White himself will look to revive his career following a disappointing ending to his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But the 26-year-old White, a 2019 first-round pick, plans to seize his newfound opportunity, approaching the clean slate with optimism and a renewed sense of passion.

For the reshaped linebacker corps to move the needle beyond being functional, however, White must meet the expectations that accompany players of his pedigree.

He will not only need to perform but also undertake a leadership role.

“I just think my ability to lead, my playmaking ability and also just being able to play at a high level,” White said, discussing what he adds to the position. “You wanna be a championship team, you gotta have a championship defense. I’ve been part of those, and I know what it looks like. I know what it feels like. I know how to get to it, and I know how to be a leader within it.

“I think one thing is, people say experience is a great teacher, and I’ve had a lot of experience in playing football.”

ITB PHOTO: Eagles LB Devin White says he can bring championship-caliber leadership to the defense.

The Eagles’ second-most experienced linebacker in a generally young room has started 75 of the 76 games of which he’s appeared. White has already asserted himself as someone primed to fulfill a leadership position, going as far as sharing one of those examples on Thursday.

On his way back to Philadelphia to prepare for training camp, White initiated a group text message with quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown, both of whom with he’d had a prior relationship.

The message, White said, was titled ‘Accountability.’

The exchanges began with White sending a photo of an empty glass, following by a text that read: “Let’s pour into it every day.”

The message was intended to symbolize the brick-by-brick approach to building the foundation of a winning culture.

“Just, how can we pull one another up. And what do you need from me, and obviously, vice versa with them,” he explained. “Because at the end of the day, it’s a long season, but the one thing we’ve been talking about is, ‘One day at a time. How can we be better?’

That White included two of the Eagles’ primary leaders in his message illustrated his commitment to contributing to the team’s success, relishing the chance to flip his narrative.

While White is entrenched at one linebacker spot, a competition for the other role is expected to endure throughout training camp between third-year holdover Nakobe Dean and free-agent addition Zack Baun.

For now, the Eagles have rotated personnel there, though Baun has received the bulk of first-team reps. But don’t expect the lack of continuity around White to have much of an impact on the sixth-year pro.

Regardless of who prevails, White aims to master a comprehensive understanding of the multiple roles and responsibilities, fortifying communication and accelerating the learning process.

“[As] long as I know my job. And try to learn their job, as well, so if they’re a little behind, or if I wanna kind of speed the process up for them,” he said. “I can help them and say, ‘Hey, watch the three-over’ if I know they’re the weak-side hook or whatever.

“So, I’m learning both positions just to be able to do my job and help with their job if needed. Just a little tip goes a long way. So, I think it’s easy playing with everybody, because everybody is holding themselves accountable to know what they gotta do to go out there and be productive.”

Rejuvenated and motivated – he also shed some pounds, citing his ideal playing weight at about 238, 239 pounds – White, once a second-team All Pro, will have an opportunity parlay his fresh start with the Eagles into a springboard for his return to prominence.

Rogue tendencies and inconsistent play have followed White throughout his career.

If he’s going to to succeed here, he’ll need to play within the structure of Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme.

Few NFL linebackers can match White’s athleticism, which has never been in question, but consistently mastering the details will ultimately determine if 2024 is a bounce-back season for him.

“Mentally, I’m just grateful. I’m just thankful to be out here to play the game that I love,” he said. “I just didn’t want to make nothing about me. The start is over. I started when I got here in OTAs. Now I just wanna be a great team player, a guy that they can lean on and help them win football games, in whatever way that is.

“Just showing up every day and being consistent and doing my part. Because I know doing my part is enough. It’s a lot of great guys and it’s a lot of people that if they do their part and I do my part, we’re gonna be a great football team.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.