Why Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had to stop celebrating being drafted by the Eagles

Like many recent college graduates, he will be living at home.

“It’s not very far. And I’ll save money,” he said with a laugh.

It’s not just any former college graduate, it’s new Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who began his NFL career this weekend at Eagles rookie camp.

For most of the Eagles rookies, this is their first trip to Philadelphia and for many of them, it’s their first time in the Northeast.

For Trotter, it’s old hat.

He was constantly at the NovaCare Complex and Linc when he was young, and even though he was only 7 years old when his father played his final season with the Eagles in 2009, he has fond memories of that time.

“It’s always happy when you take on a new stage in your life or the next step in your journey if you have people around you that you are comfortable with or even just an area that you are comfortable with. comfortable,” Trotter said. .

“It helps you to be free and to be more comfortable in your surroundings and to feel at home. I feel like God really blessed me to have the opportunity to play here. Just to stay home. I know the area, I know the team, I pretty much knew the facilities, where everything was, so it worked out really well.

Trott Jr. said he remembers his father carrying him after practice at the NovaCare Complex while his older sister TreMil walked alongside them and remembers playing on the field sometimes after home games at the Linc.

He is too young to remember Trotter’s glory years. When Trott made his last Pro Bowl in 2005, Trott Jr. had just turned 3 years old. But he grew up hearing stories about his father’s legendary career, watching videos of his father and when it came time to choose a jersey number for his own career. , he did not hesitate.

“They didn’t necessarily ask me (what number I wanted), they kind of assumed what number I was going to ask for and kind of put it on hold,” he said. “I was very happy that it was available and they decided to give me that number.

“So I’m going to wear it with pride and be the best player I can be.”

A handful of Eagles have won 54 since Trott – Tracy White in 2008 and 2009, Brandon Graham his first three seasons from 2010-2012, Jake Knott in 2013, Kamu Grugier-Hill in 2016-2019 and most recently Shaun Bradley – a other Burlington County. native — when he was in good health during the last four years.

But now 54 belongs to another Trotter.

“Very excited,” he said. “I’ve carried it my whole life.”

Trotter is a really fun story, especially for the generation of Eagles fans who grew up watching Trotter Sr. play all over the field during his two productive stints here – 1998 to 2001 and 2004 to 2006. None other linebacker for the Eagles in the last 50 games. years made four Pro Bowls.

But things are changing now. The time to celebrate being an Eagle is over. Now it’s time to get to work.

“I feel like you have to treat this a little bit like a game,” he said. “You have a big win on Saturday, maybe it’s an overtime win, you celebrate that night afterward, maybe an extra day, then you go back to working and preparing for the next opponent. That’s how I try to treat it and have that mindset.

“Celebrate it, thank God, celebrate with my family, thank the coaches and this organization, and then after that celebration period, I was back and making sure I understood what I needed to do to make sure I ‘come in and I just contribute to the team in any way I can.

There’s going to be a ton of speculation as training camp gets closer about Trotter’s role. Normally, expectations of 5^th-Round picks are muted. But the Eagles don’t have anything safe at off-ball linebacker, and it’s hard to look at that No. 54 jersey and not be excited to see him on the field.

“Honestly, I just focus on what I can control and it’s just me coming in and trying to be the best player I can be, learning defense, making sure I know what I’m doing and trying to just being a good teammate,” Trotteur said.

“I’m just trying to help the team as much as I can. Whatever role I play, it’s the role I’m going to put 100% into.