> At a Glance
> – Jalyx Hunt became the first Eagle ever to lead the team in both sacks (6½) and interceptions (3) in one season
> – The 24-year-old converted from safety at Cornell to NFL edge rusher in just three years
> – Hunt tallied all sacks in the final 10 games and all picks in the last 11
> – Why it matters: His rapid development gives Philadelphia a unique chess piece for the playoff push
Jalyx Hunt’s breakout 2025 campaign rewrote the Eagles’ record book before his second postseason snap. The third-year pro credits a teenage mantra-“act like you’ve done it before”-and months of grinding since July for the leap.
From 16-Year-Old Advice to Franchise First
Hunt still doesn’t know which coach told him at 16 to approach every challenge with veteran poise. “At the time it was terrible advice,” he laughed, “but as I got older I started to apply logic to it.” He now pairs that confidence with film study, practice habits and nonstop work that began last summer.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio says that confidence requires careful handling: “In Jalyx’s case, you have to temper him a little bit rather than lift him up.” Hunt walked that line all year, posting historic numbers after a sack-less first seven games and an interception-less first six.
Inside the Numbers
| Split | Games | Sacks | INTs | Impact Plays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Weeks 8-18 | 10 | 6½ | 3 | 9 |
The late surge mirrors his 2024 playoff cameo: 1½ sacks, 3 QB hits and 10 tackles in four games. Teammate Brandon Graham noticed the jump: “You see his regimen… watching Sweaty, me, all the guys in front of him, and then applying it the way he does it.”
Credits & Playoff Outlook
Hunt praises the Eagles’ player-development staff-Matt Leo and Connor Barwin-for refining his technique. Head coach Nick Sirianni echoes the locker-room sentiment: the player earns the biggest share of credit.
Philadelphia now rotates Hunt, Jaelan Phillips and Nolan Smith on the edge entering the postseason. After tasting playoff action as a rookie, Hunt feels better prepared: “I’m more confident in my job description and I know what I need to do and what I can do.”
Key Takeaways
- Hunt’s 6½ sacks + 3 INTs mark the first time any Eagle has topped both columns in one season
- All production came in the final 10-11 games, proving in-season growth
- Converting from Ivy League safety to NFL pass rusher in three years is virtually unheard of
- The 24-year-old credits July-to-January work habits and a teenage confidence mantra
- Philadelphia’s pass-rush rotation looks even deeper heading into the playoffs
If the second-year pro keeps ascending, the Eagles gain a chess piece rare even by playoff standards: a defender offenses must account for as both rusher and coverage threat.
