The King and I

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles linebackers coach Bobby King exudes an intensity that matches those in the position room he oversees.

For King, an unsung assistant now entering his third season in Philadelphia, that emotion is conveyed through his passion for teaching and attention to detail, principles that have served as building blocks for what coordinator Vic Fangio believes to be the Eagles’ deepest position on defense.

Spend a few minutes chatting with any Eagles linebacker on the roster, and the term “block destruction” is likely to come up in conversation. It’s a point of emphasis for King, a requirement for any of his students that eventually becomes ingrained in their DNA as tone-setters.

“He’s the real deal, man,” Chance Campbell said last season in conversation. “He’s big-time in my process here. I have nothing to say but just great things about him because he’s so helpful just in ways of, like …  Being a linebacker is hard, right? You know, you’ve got different things going on. But when you got a coach like him, he gives you the fine clues, he gives you the small details that you can overcome that you might not see, but he sees and he’s gonna advocate that for you.

“And he’s gonna be hard on you, it’s always gonna be a challenge with Bobby. But it’s not to run you down or nothing like that. It’s always for the ups, just to level out everything that goes on in football. He’s a hard-nosed coach, that’s what it is. Everything is about violence, executing your job well, block destruction. And as he always says, ‘Never get pad on pad with anybody.’ That’s my favorite line from him, because it’s true.”

King, who has fostered an environment in his room that leaves nothing open to interpretation, added to his glossary of memorable mantras on Thursday when discussing All-Pro Zack Baun. He noted that Baun, despite accounting for a team-leading 1,038 defensive snaps, played through “a bunch of stuff” last season. King wasn’t about to get into specifics, though his reverence for Baun’s sacrifices were made evident, referring to the 29-year-old as a “war daddy.”

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles LBs Bobby King has been an underrated part of the Eagles’ recent defensive success.

“When you see somebody that’s just laying it out on the line, if you got a little something, you gotta strap it up and go,” King said. “And just seeing [Baun] with multiple things going on, and he’s not missing any time, that, I gotta sell out for my brothers, too.”

Though only one is considered a household name, Baun and King will always share a unique connection in Eagles lore.

Both arrived in Philadelphia during the 2024 offseason, with Baun initially projecting as a role player and special teams stalwart. For perspective, Baun had logged exactly 660 defensive snaps over his first four seasons compared to 1,293 on special teams. The Eagles valued Baun differently, viewing the veteran as more than the situational pass rusher he’d been previously cast as in New Orleans.

Baun found a home at off-ball linebacker in Fangio’s defense, which highlighted the instincts, athleticism and astute football mind that fueled his sudden rise.

During their time working together, Baun has earned consecutive Pro Bowl berths, while achieving All-Pro recognition in 2024. Baun’s climb from innocuous offseason signing to one of the premier talents at his position is one of the better, and more improbable, stories in recent memory.

Much of the credit belongs to Baun, a team captain last season, for making the most of his opportunity. But the influence of King, who works with Baun every day, can’t be overstated.

The collective group, for that matter, plays with enhanced discipline and fundamentals, while sharing a unified mentality as aggressors. Their ability to effectively read and diagnose plays and flow to the football with urgency is also a direct reflection of King’s tutelage.

King, like every Eagles assistant, considers himself a teacher, first and foremost. There’s a collective value and priority placed on player development, entailing everything from honing in on technique and fundamentals to instilling confidence in their students.

King falls under the category of a hard-nosed coach, fixated on details and ensuring the standards remain elevated. Those who heed his directives tend to reap the benefits.

“Bobby’s the man,” Campbell said more recently. “He knows what it takes to be a good ‘backer. And he cares enough to bring guys, wherever they are, to where his standard is. Wherever you are – if you’re good at something – he’s gonna make sure you get better at it. If you have a weakness, he’s gonna make sure you close the gap.

“I think that’s rare. I think a lot of times, coaches wanna highlight guys’ strengths, which is awesome, and maybe try to hide the weakness, but Bobby doesn’t really believe in that, I don’t think. There’s a standard that you gotta be at a certain level for everything. I think that makes us all-around ‘backers.”

On King’s watch, Baun has evolved into one of the NFL’s top all-around linebackers, delivering against both the run and pass and sniffing out plays with anticipation. He majors in block destruction.

A centerpiece on an Eagles defense heralded among the elite, Baun has also shown no signs of diminishing returns, even at age 29. Lost a bit in the whirlwind of a summer riddled with storylines was Baun’s consistency and playmaking ability. He’s been spry in coverage, reinforced when defending a wheel route in a joint practice session with the Patriots, and has developed a detectable savviness to his game. When it comes to the middle level of the Eagles’ defense, he sets the tone.

Baun, who King says has taken on a more vocal role in meetings in the absence of Nakobe Dean, has already elevated the bar to what was once unfathomable heights. He checks off every box imaginable and possesses the necessary intangibles to support his status among the elite. King still believes there’s another level Baun can soar to in his third season.

“Sure,” he said. “I think we all can hit another level. I think he’ll be the first one to tell you last year wasn’t good enough for any of us. Was it good football? Yeah, it was good, but we know what the standard is around here. And both run, pass and blitz, we can all be better.”

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