No Celebration, No Party – Eagles Rookie Defender Back to Training at 4 A.M. Right After Win Over Vikings
While the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles were celebrating their dominant win over the Minnesota Vikings, one rookie chose a completely different path.
No champagne, no late-night celebration — just silence, sweat, and determination.
At 4 a.m., just hours after the Eagles landed back in Philadelphia, the lights flickered on inside the NovaCare Complex. There stood a young defender, helmet on, cleats laced tight, grinding alone in the dark. The only sound in the building was the echo of weights clanking and his deep, steady breathing.
Two hours later, Cooper DeJean arrived for an early workout and was stunned by what he saw.
Rookie Defensive Back Andrew Mukuba — still wearing his practice gear — had been there since before dawn, dripping with sweat, repeating coverage drills and footwork techniques from the previous game.
“I came in thinking I was early,” DeJean said with a laugh. “But he was already soaked through, training like we had lost. That’s the kind of fire that changes a defense. He’s not just trying to prove himself — he’s trying to lead.”
When reporters later asked Mukuba about the unusual workout, the rookie kept his response simple and humble.
“I didn’t play well against the Vikings,” Mukuba said. “That’s on me. I missed a few reads, a few tackles — things that could’ve cost us. I need to clean that up before we face the Giants on Sunday. I don’t care that we won; I care about how I performed.”
Inside the locker room, veterans reportedly took notice. Coaches praised his work ethic, saying it reminded them of the same intensity seen in players like Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox in their early years — men who turned discipline into legacy.
DeJean later posted a story on Instagram showing the empty training field with the caption:
“4 a.m. and he’s already been here for hours. That’s different.”
As the Eagles prepare for another divisional battle against the New York Giants, Mukuba’s mentality has become a talking point within the organization — a symbol of how Philadelphia builds its culture.
He isn’t the loudest rookie. He doesn’t dance after plays or talk trash online. But when it comes to work, Andrew Mukuba has made one thing clear:
“I’m not here to celebrate wins — I’m here to build them.”
And for a franchise that prides itself on grit, resilience, and relentless effort, that’s exactly the kind of energy the Eagles want leading their future.
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