Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, fresh off his Super Bowl LIX heroics, took a moment at mandatory minicamp to reflect on his career-defining plays while delivering a subtle jab at NFC East rival Washington Commanders. The former Alabama All-American, who earned the nickname “The Dagger” for his 46-yard touchdown catch in the Eagles’ 40-22 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9, 2025, hinted that two of his top career catches came against Washington.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since the Super Bowl, Smith ranked his championship touchdown among his top three catches but elevated two unspecified receptions against the Commanders above it. “I would say it’s top three,” Smith said of his Super Bowl score. “The other two would be two catches against Washington. It’s a lot of them.” With 44 receptions for 559 yards and three touchdowns in eight games against Washington, Smith’s dominance over the rival is undeniable.
The Super Bowl, played in Smith’s home state at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, carried extra weight for the Louisiana native. “I just kind of came out the tunnel, and it just kind of hit me,” he said. “The feeling of just being back home. My grandfather, he doesn’t come up here to games, so him being able to see me in the NFL at the biggest game, that kind of set in with me.” Winning in front of his family, he added, “hit me harder than just winning it overall.”
Smith’s 2024 season saw him record 68 receptions for 833 yards and eight touchdowns, a dip from his back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns, partly due to missing four games with injuries—a career high he’s determined to avoid in 2025. “I had some injuries this year, so that’s probably the biggest thing—just doing things to prevent having those injuries,” he said. “Just strengthen whatever I need to strengthen.” Smith chronicled his offseason training on his YouTube channel, despite skipping the voluntary portion of Philadelphia’s program.
At minicamp, Smith got his first in-person look at the Eagles’ offense under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, promoted from pass-game coordinator after Kellen Moore left to become head coach of the New Orleans Saints. “It looks good,” Smith said. “Football is football. Everybody does the same thing, different terminology, so getting down to learning his philosophy, the way he does things, why he does it, and just understanding how he’s thinking.”
With the offseason program wrapped, the Eagles will reconvene for training camp on July 22. Before that, Smith will trade his cleats for a bat at the fourth annual DeVonta Smith and Friends Celebrity Softball Game on June 28 at Coca-Cola Field in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The event, benefiting St. Luke’s Hospital in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, offers players a break from football and fans a chance to see their stars in a new light. “It’s great just to give the guys a time to step away from football, to just go out there, be themselves,” Smith said. “Some guys are not the best at baseball, so give the fans a chance to come out there and see us do other things. Ultimately, it’s a fundraiser for the hospital, so just going out there, doing it for the people in the hospital and giving back to the community.”
Smith’s “Dagger” may have sealed the Super Bowl, but his words this week suggest the Commanders remain a favorite target as he sharpens his blade for 2025.