The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles had their playoff run come to a quick and unceremonious end on Sunday evening, as they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
For many Eagles fans, Sunday’s defeat was the perfect way to end what has been a frustrating season. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and star wide receiver A.J. Brown caught the most flak for their performances, or lack thereof, on Sunday; however, several other Eagles players didn’t play up to standard, including two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Zack Baun.
Many wondered what Baun would do as an encore performance this season after an incredible 2024 season. That performance led to him receiving a three-year, $51 million deal this offseason. The veteran linebacker did not play at a first-team All-Pro level in 2025. However, he was still a steady force in the front seven (123 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, five quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble).
In Sunday’s game against the 49ers, fans were hoping that Baun could make a game-changing play as he did so much last season, but it never materialized.
Zack Baun Was a No-Show in Wild Card Loss vs. 49ers
According to Pro Football Focus, the standout linebacker had his worst game of the season on Sunday against San Francisco. Baun recorded an overall defensive grade of 48.3, a 54.8 run defense grade, a 31.7 tackling grade, and a 44.3 coverage grade. The last time Baun had an overall defensive grade under 50 was in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos (49.2). Coincidentally, in that game, the veteran linebacker also struggled in coverage with 44.5.
Do PFF grades tell the full story? No, but they do add context, especially when Baun struggled to pass the eye test, too.
Looking back at last night’s game loss, Baun wasn’t credited with allowing any receptions or targets. But one Eagles fan pointed out that the linebacker’s lateral agility looked gone, while another mentioned that Baun looked lost.
This was not just Baun; there were times in general when the Eagles’ defense looked lost or out of place, which is a testament to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and his offensive genius. Baun did have five tackles, but also had two missed tackles.
On the hierarchy of problems from Sunday night’s game, Baun is nowhere near the top of the list, but to see him not resemble the player we saw in 2024 after getting paid is disappointing. He still has two years remaining on his contract, and the last thing Philadelphia wants is for his deal to become a financial albatross.
With that being said, should the Eagles start to have buyer's remorse about Baun’s contract? No, as he was more of a net positive than a net negative this season. He’s still one of the better LBs in the league, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him have another 100-plus tackle season in 2026. He just needs to refocus and remind everyone of the player he can be.