Zack Baun
Zack Baun, is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. He played four years with the Saints before having a breakout year with the Eagles, being named a Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro, and finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Early life
Baun grew up in West Bend, Wisconsin and initially attended West Bend East High School. His family moved to Brown Deer, Wisconsin after his sophomore year and he transferred to Brown Deer High School, where he played basketball and football and ran track. Baun moved from playing wide receiver at West Bend to quarterback and linebacker at Brown Deer. As a senior, Baun was named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association State Offensive Player of the Year and was also named Dave Krieg State Quarterback of the Year after passing for 1,936 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushing for 1,837 yards and a state-leading 39 touchdowns. Baun committed to play college football at Wisconsin with the intention of gray shirting his freshman year. In basketball, Baun was a starter for Brown Deer's 2013 WIAA Division II State Championship team and he placed in the Division II state track championship in both the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes.College career
Baun redshirted his true freshman season after breaking his left foot going into the season. He appeared in 12 games as a redshirt freshman, making 15 tackles with a forced fumble. Baun missed the entirety of his redshirt sophomore season after re-injuring his left foot during spring practices. Baun was named a starter at outside linebacker for the Badgers going into his redshirt junior season and finished the season as the team's third-leading tackler with 63 stops with 2.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, one interception and a fumble recovery.Baun entered his redshirt senior season on the watchlist for the Butkus Award and was voted to be a team captain. He was named midseason All-American by the Associated Press and Sporting News after leading the Badgers in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles through the first six games of the season. Baun finished the season with 76 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks and was named first team All-Big Ten and a first team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Professional career
New Orleans Saints
Baun was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round with the 74th pick in the 2020 NFL draft. Baun made his debut on September 21, 2020, on Monday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders, playing on special teams.On December 17, 2022, Baun was placed on season–ending injured reserve with a calf injury he had suffered in Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Philadelphia Eagles
On March 13, 2024, Baun signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. He transitioned to inside linebacker during the offseason. In Week 1 of the 2024 season, he recorded 15 total tackles and 2 sacks in his first career multi-sack game in a 34–29 win over the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in Week 10, where he recorded two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in a 34–6 win over the Dallas Cowboys. In 2024, Baun was selected to his first Pro Bowl. In addition, Baun was named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro and nominated for Defensive Player of the Year, placing fifth in the voting.On January 12, 2025, Baun recorded his first postseason interception against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card playoff game. He earned his second postseason interception against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, leading to an Eagles touchdown two plays later. The Eagles went on to defeat the Chiefs by a score of 40–22, giving Baun his first Super Bowl championship. Baun ended the game as the Eagles' leading defender, recording seven tackles and one interception.
On March 5, 2025, Baun agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles after a career season, with $34 million in guaranteed money. Baun was one of a dozen Eagles players of the Super Bowl LIX championship team that did not participate in the White House visit in April 2025.