Eagles 1st-Round Draft Pick LB Jihaad Campbell

Q. Hey Jihaad. Last night, you talked about the decision to go to IMG. Why was that important to you and what was your experience like there? (Ed Kracz)

Jihaad Campbell: Just throughout my whole life really just accepting challenge. Having my support system with me and understanding just different aspects of life and different life situations and really how to go through it. It is a big sequence of my life, and I think that was the best thing that happened to me. Just persevering and overcoming every adversity that came my way.

Q. How old were you when you first thought maybe realistically you could one day play for the Eagles? (Reuben Frank)

Jihaad Campbell: I think when I was at my grandparents’ house– I’ve got a shout out with my grandfather, Pop Pop. When I was younger and I saw all the card selections that he had. I was like, ‘All right, I know it. I could definitely play for them boys.’

Q. And then getting to the facility today, realizing that dream, what has today been like for you? (Jeff Neiburg)

Jihaad Campbell: It’s been good. Just taking it day by day and just going through the process. I mean, I’m even enjoying it right now here with you guys.

Q. What was the experience like in Green Bay and are you happy you went? (Dave Zangaro)

Jihaad Campbell: The experience was everything. I mean, just the things that God does. When you serve God in a certain way and you pray and you make sure that you’re in his guidance and that you’re receptive to his blessings, I mean it’s major, major, definitely.

Q. What do you like about being an edge rusher and what do you like about being a linebacker, and how different are they? (Bob Brookover)

Jihaad Campbell: I like being a football player. I like being an absolute baller, a dude that can do everything, that can learn and grow and just maximize each and every opportunity that I have to play this game

Q. Is being so close to home more comfortable for you when you go through things like this? (John McMullen)

Jihaad Campbell: Yeah, definitely. When I was on the plane, I was looking like, ‘Dang, I’m really back home.’ That’s when it hit me. I was like, ‘Okay. All right.’

Q. You mentioned you only have one interaction you said last night with the Eagles, and that was a brief conversation with Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers Coach Jeremiah Washburn. Is that the only interaction you had in the pre-draft process, was it just that one incident? (Ed Kracz)

Jihaad Campbell: So, prior to the draft and stuff like that, I had talked to [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Howie [Roseman] and we were getting to know each other and just building that relationship. I mean, now look at where I am. So, that relationship definitely turned out well.

Q. Did you come here for that? (Ed Kracz)

Jihaad Campbell: No.

Q. You’ve mentioned your grandfather a few times. What’s his role been in your life? (Zach Berman)

Jihaad Campbell: I mean, one of the biggest supporters in my life. He always makes sure that he texts me and say, ‘Love, Pop Pop,’ ‘Love my mom,’ ‘Make sure you just keep being a good person in life. Just keep being a great football player.’

Q. What was your grandfather’s reaction when you found out you got drafted by the Eagles? (Olivia Reiner)

Jihaad Campbell: I thought he was about to faint, but he was definitely lit, though. I was super happy and excited that he got to watch that moment and that I got to cherish that moment with him.

Q. How important is it for you that you’re coming to a place they’ve had success? Obviously, just won a Super Bowl a couple months ago, been to three Super Bowls in eight years, playoffs every year, number one defense in the NFL last year. You’re coming to a place that’s pretty established, successful. (Reuben Frank)

Jihaad Campbell: I think it’s all about my process and part of my journey. I just came from Alabama, so that’s literally the same program/organization that I came from. And another thing that I want to hit on that [Head] Coach [Nick] Sirianni was talking about, too, was tough, detailed and together. That was a big thing that stood out to me and understanding what that meant and how he wants this organization to be ran. The standard, everybody just playing together, just being with each other and everybody just connecting.

Q. You’ve talked a lot about winning and Alabama. Were you disappointed at all that you didn’t get that ring at Alabama? And how does that transform to coming here? (Bob Brookover)

Jihaad Campbell: It is all a part of the process, you know what I’m saying? So I learned and I grew from that situation. Everybody did on that team. All it did was just add more fuel to the fire for my journey.

Q. We talked to you about your health last night. I’m just curious, throughout your career, even dating back to your early days, playing football is something that you’ve dealt with. I’m wondering how that has shaped you as a player, being able to go through the rehab process. People have talked about your response to those things that shaped you. (Brooks Kubena)

Jihaad Campbell: I mean, it’s tough. You’ve got a lot of critics, a lot of people that don’t see that process. I’m not even just talking about myself, I’m talking about people that have injuries right now that’s going through the draft process that’s not really on social media posting what they’re doing and stuff like that. So I think that’s critical. Just trusting in yourself, believing in yourself and always having a firm, tight circle around you and a great foundation and support system.

Q. You mention a support system. I mean to not go into despondency I guess in those kinds of moments, but what has helped you throughout your career in that? Where did that come from? (Brooks Kubena)

Jihaad Campbell: I would say really my parents, mentors, trainers, just for helping me on the path that was in my life, guided and mentored in a certain way of just attacking each and every day like it was my last. I mean, that’s what I did and I’m still doing that.

Q. As the draft was going on last night, when did you get a sense that you might end up with the Eagles? How was that going through your mind and everything? (Martin Frank)

Jihaad Campbell: I was just taking it one pick at a time, man, just being patient. Worth the wait. Just extremely humbled about the situation and I’m excited. I’m really excited to be an Eagle.

Q. These past four years since moving down to Florida, how often were you able to make it back home and how’d you spend the Super Bowl this year? (Zach Berman)

Jihaad Campbell: I was focused, you know what I’m saying? Focused and just preparing my craft and what I had to do to get better each and every day. And the Super Bowl this past year, I was in Arizona. I was training for the combine and stuff, and I was at one of the agents in my agency house and I was definitely rooting for them Eagles.

Q. You played some offense I think at IMG, right? Was there ever a part of you that thought, ‘Hey, maybe I can play?’ (Ed Kracz)

Jihaad Campbell: Yeah, I could do a little bit of something.

Q. What were you, a running back? (Ed Kracz)

Jihaad Campbell: I was running back, receiver, quarterback before I got out of high school though. Yeah, I definitely played those positions on offense. I thought I was going to be an offensive player until I started getting a little aggressive. That’s when I said, ‘Alright, I’ve got to go to defense.’

Q. There’s quite a few Alabama guys here. I think maybe you crossed over with CB Eli Ricks one year. He went to IMG– (John McMullen)

Jihaad Campbell: [G/T] Tyler Steen, too. And [TE] Cam Latu, he just got here.

Q. How important is it to you to have those Alabama guys? (John McMullen)

Jihaad Campbell: It’s great. Just that brotherhood, that B Psi Phi for life, it goes a long way. You see a lot of different dudes that are in the league right now that rep that ‘A’ on their chest still and hold that tradition and that standard within whatever they’re doing in their life. So, it means a lot.

Q. Which of your new teammates are you most looking forward to playing with? (Dave Zangaro)

Jihaad Campbell: Everybody. For real. The Eagles have got a great organization full of coaches, full of front office people, executives, and of course the players. So, I’m just glad and appreciate [being] a part of that.

Q. How far along are you in your rehab and do you expect to be ready for training camp? (Bob Brookover)

Jihaad Campbell: Yeah, I’m just taking that day by day right now. Just really in progress with that.

Q. Are there any players that you really enjoy watching on film, defensive players in the league that you kind of try to craft your game after or remind you of yourself? (Cayden Steele)

Jihaad Campbell: Definitely. I like to watch a lot of different defensive players. I don’t really just watch one person, but some people that I could definitely point out, I’ve got to definitely go with [LB] Zack Baun for sure. Him just being versatile and his instincts and his reaction to his awareness of the game is definitely special. A guy like [49ers LB] Fred Warner. He definitely has lot of great instincts to him, too. And obviously a guy like [Cowboys LB] Micah Parsons, a guy that can do it all.

Q. Last night, you were talking about your versatility. I mean, going back to high school, the journey going from just hand in the ground to standing up as a linebacker, what was it at the beginning that made you trust in that? And obviously, that’s worked out since, but kind of at the beginning, what was it like moving from that? (Brooks Kubena)

Jihaad Campbell: I think it was just preparation, you know what I’m saying? Figuring out what I wanted to do. ‘Okay, now I’m going to work my butt off to get to the best version of myself,’ you know what I’m saying? So, that was the best thing for me. In my mindset, everything that I did, whether I was playing on offense and I was being a receiver. ‘Okay, well outside of practice now I’m going to train on some routes and stuff like that or some releases,’ just to be the best version of myself.

Q. You’ve gotten a lot of these same questions and your answer was, ‘I’m Mr. Do It All,’ that’s what you said you were. In your life, have you found that you’ve been– I guess people have tried to put you in that box and you just view yourself as a football player? (Zach Berman)

Jihaad Campbell: He exactly said it right. Got it right.

Q. When did LB Zack Baun get on your radar? Because before last year, he hadn’t established himself in this league. (Dave Zangaro)

Jihaad Campbell: Yeah, I mean, just football evolving and that type of guy being in the number one defense in the nation, which is Philadelphia Eagles, and I got a chance to definitely watch some film and watch some tape on him and just see how special he is.