Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is the definition of a tough-love football coach. 2025 second-round safety via the Clemson Tigers and Texas Longhorns, Andrew Mukuba, is experiencing that first-hand. Even during the bye week.
Last week, Fangio was dismissive of Mukuba's three-tackle, one-interception performance against the Minnesota Vikings, saying, "It's uneven. The ability is there. He has to be more consistent."
This week, Fangio said (h/t @BrandonGowton) that "Reed Blankenship is having a good season" despite "the challenge of playing next to a rookie."
Fangio and Blankenship have a strong bond that was made stronger when the latter called out the former's ex-employer, the Miami Dolphins, for how Fangio's departure from Miami Gardens played out. Several ex-Dolphins took aim at Fangio's personality, but Blankenship had none of it.
The heart of this matter is Mukuba, though. At times he's ready, at times he doesn't look ready. Hence Fangio's up-and-down, hot-and-cold approach with his rookie.
It's been tough love for Mukuba since the day he was drafted. But love that's helped mold Mukuba into a full-time starter by the beginning of October. Mukuba had been in a timeshare with Sydney Brown, but quickly earned the right to get snaps in the Eagles' secondary.
Andrew Mukuba's Development Hinges on Time Between the Lines
Back in July, with the defensive back banged up, Fangio made it clear that Mukuba's development depends on getting live reps; since team meetings can only do so much to get a player actually prepared.
“Yeah, I mean he just has to pay attention to meetings to get mental reps, but there's no replacing physical reps. Meetings and mental reps are good, but the value of them compared to physical reps is night and day," Fangio said.
Philadelphia has come a long way to reassure fans that their investment is coming along right on schedule. Mukuba played in the preseason and quickly proved himself over the course of the last several months. As previously mentioned, it took a quarter of the regular season to get him regular reps.
Now, Mukuba has two interceptions, three passes deflected, and 21 solo tackles. All great numbers for a rookie, especially the multiple INTs.
That tough love is working out. Mukuba is being thrown into the fire, and he's walking out of it looking like the Human Torch. Hopefully, his rise continues so that he can given Fangio every reason to stop taking swipes at him in the media.