Eagles Safety Mukuba Offically Out of Rookie School According to Fangio
If you’ve been watching the Eagles’ secondary this season, you might’ve noticed something shift. It wasn’t subtle, like a slight breeze or a change in the halftime snack menu. No, this was the kind of shift that makes you sit up and realize, oh, wait, maybe the sky isn’t falling after all.
For weeks, rookie safety Andrew Mukuba looked exactly like what he was: a rookie. He got burned. He missed tackles. He probably gave defensive coordinator Vic Fangio a few more gray hairs, if that’s even scientifically possible at this point. But recently? The kid has looked like he belongs. And if you ask Fangio, the grace period is over. The “rookie” label? Yeah, that’s been ripped off like a Band-Aid.
It’s refreshing, honestly. In a league where coaches love to protect their young players with soft quotes and clichés about “learning curves” and “trusting the process,” Fangio basically shrugged and said, nah, he’s played enough.
It’s that classic grumpy-uncle energy Philly fans secretly love. Fangio isn’t here to hold hands; he’s here to fix a defense that has needed fixing for what feels like a decade. And for Mukuba, that means the training wheels are off. Welcome to the NFL, kid. Hope you’re ready to pay taxes.
Mukuba’s Growth: From Liability to Asset
Let’s be real for a second: the beginning of the season was rough. Watching Mukuba against the Buccaneers or the Giants early on felt a bit like watching a toddler try to walk on ice. There was a lot of slipping, sliding, and looking generally confused while opposing receivers ran right past him. Fangio, never one to mince words, called his play “uneven.” Which is polite coach-speak for “he’s giving me heartburn.”
But something clicked. Over the last few weeks, Mukuba hasn’t just been a body on the field; he’s been a playmaker. We’re talking about a guy who has racked up 43 tackles, three pass deflections, and two interceptions in his first 10 games. He’s hitting people—hard. He’s sticking to receivers like glue. The bad plays that used to lead to disaster? They’ve mostly evaporated.
Fangio put it best: “Early in the year, he had some bad plays that led to big plays for the opponent, and we haven’t had that lately.” It’s simple, but it’s the truth. You stop giving up the big play, you stay on the field. It’s not rocket science, but for a rookie, it’s a massive leap.
The Fangio Effect: “You Gotta Pay Taxes”
This is my favorite part of the whole saga. Fangio dropped a quote from former Vikings legend Bud Grant that perfectly encapsulates the NFL coaching mindset: “For every rookie you play, add a loss to your loss column.” Another gem he threw out there? “You’ve got to pay taxes on when you play rookies.”
It’s such a perfect, cynical way to look at roster construction. You play the kids, you’re going to pay the price. But here’s the twist: the Eagles have paid their taxes. The bill is settled. Mukuba has played nine starts now. He’s seen the speed of the game. He’s been embarrassed, and he’s bounced back.
According to Fangio, because game 11 is approaching, Mukuba is “not a rookie anymore.” It’s an arbitrary deadline, sure, but it matters. It signals trust. It signals that the coaching staff isn’t grading him on a curve anymore. If he messes up now, it’s not a “rookie mistake”—it’s just a mistake. And honestly? That’s a compliment.
A Bright Future Alongside Jihaad Campbell
It’s not just Mukuba, either. The Eagles’ 2025 draft class is quietly shaping up to be a foundational group for this defense. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell has been another standout, improving week over week and looking like a guy who could anchor the middle of the field for years.
When you pair Campbell’s development with Mukuba’s ascension, you start to see the vision. Fangio is building something sustainable here. It’s rare to have two rookies step into starting roles and actually look competent this quickly, let alone look like future stars.
There’s a lot of credit to go around, but Fangio deserves a hefty slice of the pie. He’s tough, he’s demanding, and he’s brutally honest. But his methods work. He’s taken these raw talents and molded them into legitimate NFL starters in less than half a season.
So, Eagles fans, take a breath. The secondary isn’t a disaster zone anymore. The linebackers aren’t a glaring weakness. The kids are alright. In fact, according to Vic Fangio, they aren’t even kids anymore. They’re veterans. And just in time for the playoff push, too.
