Former Philadelphia Eagles star Javon Hargrave pulled back the curtain this week on the major differences between his former club and current team — the San Francisco 49ers — when it comes to being ready to win games in the NFL each week.
Not long ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were the creme of the NFC crop and seemed headed to another trip to the Super Bowl in 2024. And chances are they would likely face the San Francisco 49ers again in the conference championship game since the boys from the Bay Area were again a powerhouse this season. However, things have changed a lot in the last six weeks.
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Over their last six games, the Eagles have gone into a serious tailspin as they have lost for of those matchups and coughed up the division title. The defense has been a shadow of the group that was so dominant in 2022, and the offense that was so good for much of this season has hit some major bumps in the road. On the flip side, the 49ers have crushed and coasted their way to the top seed in the NFC.
Former Philadelphia Eagles star explains biggest difference between them and San Francisco 49ers
One player who has a deep understanding of both Philadelphia and San Francisco’s inner workings is two-time Pro Bowler Javon Hargrave. The 30-year-old starred on the Eagles’ defense that went to the Super Bowl last season and earned Pro Bowl honors for the 49ers this year.
That is why he was the perfect person to ask about the difference between the two teams while appearing on teammate Arik Armstead’s podcast. And it seems that hard work and being serious about game preparation is what is separating the two teams.
“It’s extremely hard at practice here, more demanding,” Hargrave said. “I think it’s more so like the Golden State [Warriors] coaching and Miami Heat. Over here it’s the Miami Heat, over there it’s Golden State because it’s more relaxed, you chilling. Over here, it’s work every day. Every day you’re about to get it. I feel like Kyle [Shanahan] is Pat Riley, you know what you’re getting over here.
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“When I first got here I was looking at this kinda crazy, some of the stuff we were doing. I was like I can’t believe y’all doing all this right now … A war every day.”
What’s interesting is Armstead claimed that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has eased up on players far more now than when he originally arrived and was building the winning culture San Francisco now has. It should be no surprise then that despite the success the 49ers still push hard to maintain it while the Eagles may have taken what they did in 2022 for granted and thought it would come easy this season. Which it certainly has not.