Jonathan Greenard shared his thoughts on becoming a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in an interview released on Apr. 26. The defensive player spoke at the Jefferson Health Training Complex after signing a contract extension, describing his journey and expectations with the team.
Greenard said he started as a running back and linebacker before switching to defensive end in high school. “My whole life, I was a running back and MIKE linebacker. I didn’t get to defensive end until about my junior, senior year of high school (Hiram, Georgia). When they came to me, I said, ‘Well, I’m gonna have to be effective in this somehow.’ If they put me here, they see something in me that I don’t, but I just want to make plays…The one thing that didn’t change was my mentality,” Greenard said.
He emphasized the importance of versatility for edge players: “I’ve always wanted to be the best edge guy in totality, not just being a pass rusher…I started from stopping to run, and then I earned my way to go get the quarterback.” He also discussed how affecting quarterbacks involves teamwork: “I’m not just out here just freelancing – the best edge guys are the guys that get everybody else involved and on the same page.”
When asked about fitting into a new team environment like Philadelphia’s, Greenard explained: “How I’ve been carrying myself since I’ve been in the league has literally been the same person from day one…I’ve always been a person that just treated everybody with respect.” He noted that playing against top talent like Lane Johnson made him eager for challenges: “I want to do dirty work, I want to go against the best of the best.”
The Eagles operate as a professional American football team based in Philadelphia and joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1933 according to their official website. The organization draws fans locally and nationally through games, media coverage, merchandise sales according to their official website, and provides news updates along with ticketing options according to their official website.
Reflecting on his move from previous teams without championship hardware visible at their facilities compared with Philadelphia’s standards for success — including Lombardi Trophies — Greenard said: “It moved me so much…This team already had everything they need to get to that point…so bringing me here…I can just add…what’s already being built here.”
