Devin White discusses Eagles bouncing back from 2023 collapse

Before linebacker Devin White joined the Eagles in free agency, he featured for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who handed Philadelphia a 32-9 wild-card playoff defeat that concluded its epic collapse after the club started the 2023 season at 10-1.

White spoke with NFL Media's Judy Battista on Tuesday about what he thinks went wrong for the Eagles from early December through the middle of January.

"I think it was, in the end, injury plays a part in the playoffs," White said. "That sense of urgency on defense from the Eagles — the Bucs, we had it. We was hungry, we was feisty. That gets you over the top. They were lacking it for whatever reason, injury, didn't have the will to win, the want to. But it's a new unit. They brought great players back in. ... It's hard to lose that focus when you got a lot of great leaders on the field."

Throughout the first half of 2024, quarterback Jalen Hurts received criticism regarding his leadership style after the Eagles limped into this year's postseason at 11-6 before their loss at Tampa Bay. More recently, it was reported that "there was some disconnect" between Hurts and Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni last season "due to their personalities."

White didn't address such topics but mentioned how he's encouraged by how players have embraced working with new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after Fangio replaced Sean Desai this past winter.

"Everybody is swarming around," White explained. "One thing, I've been on great defensive teams, and if one person messed up, somebody is flying to the ball. You can depend on your brother to save you."

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Eagles tied for third among the betting favorites at +700 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX. While some are already naming former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as a potential replacement for Sirianni, White indicated he and others inside the Philadelphia locker room won't let their coach down.

"Just a bunch of hungry dogs trying to get after it," White said about how the Eagles will respond to what occurred late last season.