Total Pro Sports
Philadelphia Eagles star linebacker Nolan Smith suffered a gnarly injury in the club’s Super Bowl 59 blowout victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
12 days after the Eagles defeated Kansas City 40-22 in Super Bowl 59, we’ve learned of a significant injury that Nolan Smith suffered in New Orleans. Incredibly, the second-year linebacker managed to play through it.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the second-year linebacker played the second half with a torn triceps. Smith had surgery on Wednesday, and Rapoport added that he’ll be ready for the 2025 season.
Smith finished the Super Bowl with two hits on quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Philly front seven dominated from start to finish, sacking Mahomes six times and causing a forced fumble that the defense recovered.
#Eagles pass-rusher Nolan Smith tore his triceps in the Super Bowl LIX win over the #Chiefs — and played through it in the second half, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
Smith, who performed in the second half on one arm, had surgery on Wednesday and will be ready for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/Atmq0pcXkV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2025
It was the polar opposite of Super Bowl 57, where the Eagles got zero sacks on Mahomes despite putting up 70 in the regular season. Mahomes diced up the Philly defense with one bad ankle, but the 29-year-old stood no chance against Vic Fangio’s defense.
The Eagles thwarted KC’s three-peat and now have two Super Bowl championships in eight years. Win another in the next few years, and they’ll be in the conversation as a 21st century dynasty.
The 24-year-old Nolan Smith had a breakout year , recording 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 42 tackles in the regular season. In Philly’s four playoff games, he had four sacks and one forced fumble.
Eagles legend Brandon Graham may very well retire in the coming weeks, and star pass rusher Josh Sweat is likely to depart in free agency. That means the Eagles will rely more on Smith, who emerged as a key force on Philly’s defense after spending his rookie year in a rotational role.
