Philadelphia, PA — October 26, 2025
While the rest of the Eagles locker room was filled with cheers and celebration after their 38–20 victory over the New York Giants, one player sat quietly in the corner — his mind elsewhere.
The mood shift came after a devastating moment in the second half, when Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo suffered a severe leg injury following a low tackle. The crowd at Lincoln Financial Field stood in stunned silence as Skattebo was carted off the field, his right leg in an air cast.
WOW: #Giants fans wanted a FLAG for a hip-drop tackle on #Eagles Zack Baun for this tackle on Cam Skattebo’s gruesome injury.
😳😳😳
Throughout the season, the refs have not called the hip-drop tackle.
pic.twitter.com/hqGyjOG1tp— MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 26, 2025
For most players, the game moved on. But for the defender involved in the play, the moment didn’t fade. He stayed on the bench after the final whistle, visibly shaken.
That player was later identified as Zack Baun, the Eagles linebacker who made the tackle. Speaking to reporters after the game, Baun admitted the incident weighed heavily on him.
“It’s hard to enjoy a win when you know someone’s out there in pain because of a play you were part of,” Baun said. “I felt heartbroken the moment I saw him go down. Right after the game, I reached out to check on him. I just couldn’t leave it at that.”
Baun then personally called Skattebo at the hospital to ask about his condition — a conversation that turned out to be emotional for both sides.
“I just wanted to know if he was okay,” Baun said. “I’ve played this game long enough to know nobody wants to see that happen. I told him I was sorry for the hit and that I hope he comes back stronger. That’s the hardest part of football — you play with all your heart, but sometimes things go wrong.”
According to sources close to the Giants, Skattebo was deeply moved by the call. Though facing a lengthy recovery, he expressed gratitude for Baun’s kindness and sportsmanship.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni also addressed the moment in his postgame press conference, praising Baun’s compassion.
“We teach our guys that winning matters — but respect matters more,” Sirianni said. “What Zack did shows the heart of this team.”
For Eagles fans, it was a powerful reminder that true greatness isn’t only measured by the scoreboard — but by the humanity shown beyond it.
