Former Eagles WR Jordan Matthews wants his sons to be like ‘Pro Bowl-talent’ Eli Stowers – The Athletic – The New York Times

NFL
The Eagles drafted tight end Eli Stowers in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bill Streicher / Imagn Images
After playing 11 years in the NFL and coaching at Vanderbilt last season, Jordan Matthews tried to identify the players he wanted his children to emulate. He settled on two. One will play for the Philadelphia Eagles next season.
“I would love for my boys to be like Eli Stowers,” Matthews said during a recent interview with The Athletic. “I don’t know if I can compliment a person better than that.”
Matthews, who played five seasons for the Eagles, came to this conclusion after spending last year with the Eagles’ second-round pick while on Vanderbilt’s coaching staff.
Advertisement
The Eagles were drawn to Stowers’ elite production as the nation’s top tight end and record-setting athletic testing at the combine. Matthews’ insight was based on all the moments in between — from the way he practiced to the way he studied, from his temperament to his faith. Matthews called Stowers “the blueprint.”
“I think early on in the NFL, when people meet Eli, they try and get him to break a little bit like, ‘OK, is this real? Who is this guy, really?’” Matthews said.
He offered a pre-emptive message to Stowers’ teammates: “It’s not fake. It’s very real. It’s not forced.”
This might be a helpful frame of reference to share with Matthews’ children. However, in Philadelphia, fans won’t buy Stowers jerseys because of how focused he is during the offseason and his commitment to his family and faith. Matthews’ counter is that this is all connected. He knows what’s required to thrive in Philadelphia — a different football environment than other markets.
“You can’t be sensitive; you have to be legit intentional about your process and getting better if you’re going to be successful at Philly,” Matthews said. “He’s not fazed by anything going on outside of him in his day-to-day life. And you see that show up when he gets on the field as well.”
If there’s anybody who can understand what Stowers is about to enter, it’s Matthews.
Twelve years ago, when the Eagles moved on from a high-profile wide receiver, they turned to a pass catcher in the second round from Vanderbilt with high-end college production and off-the-charts makeup. That was Matthews, who was expected to help usher in the post-DeSean Jackson era in Philadelphia.
Matthews was a key contributor for three seasons with the Eagles, averaging 891 receiving yards. He became a respected locker room presence before the Eagles dealt him to Buffalo for cornerback help.
Advertisement
Matthews returned to the Eagles for two stints during a journeyman phase of his career. He later transitioned to tight end toward the twilight of his career, adding weight and bolstering his blocking. That made him an ideal match at Vanderbilt last season for a quarterback-turned-tight end poised to be a high draft pick, with blocking as the biggest blemish.
“Jordan’s been huge; I love him to death,” Stowers said, “He’s a mentor in every aspect, not just in football. He’s big in his faith, he’s mentored me in that, in football. He went through a similar thing, a position change while he was in the league. He has so much wisdom. He played for so long in the league.
“Not just me, but everyone around the Vanderbilt facility, he taught us so much on how to be successful, how to take care of your body, what you need to do to be successful at this game and at this level.”
Matthews watched Stowers from afar before taking a formal role with the Commodores last season. He knew Stowers was an NFL prospect, but when you’ve played with Zach Ertz and George Kittle, it takes more than production in the SEC to believe in a tight end’s NFL future.
When Matthews first watched Stowers in drills on a team that went 10-3 and ranked as high as No. 9, he didn’t just believe the hype. He proselytized it.
“I’m like, ‘Nobody can cover this dude.’ When he put his foot in the ground, he separates,” Matthews said. “And those are the things I kind of look for. How quickly can you put your foot in the ground and then get two to three (steps) away from somebody? … He did it so consistently early on, I’m like, ‘Listen, I don’t care what pace he plays at. This dude is explosive.’ That’s what I more so look at. Does Travis Kelce play fast? I don’t know. Is Travis Kelce explosive? One hundred percent.”
Athleticism is not a question with Stowers. His 45.5-inch vertical jump and 135-inch broad jump broke tight end records at the combine. His 4.51-second 40-yard dash tied for second among tight ends at the combine this year.
Advertisement
Matthews also viewed it as the combine as an example of how the tight end position has evolved. Stowers has sometimes been labeled a heavy slot receiver — Matthews was a big slot when he came into the NFL — but top tight ends are relied upon to be the leading receiving threats on teams.
A plodding tight end is a role player; a dynamic tight end is a standout.
“When they start running 4.5 and jumping 40-inch vert and you got guys running 4.3s, it’s totally a different position now than before,”  Matthews said.
“I tell people all the time: ‘We can’t get as caught up on his position. Ask me about how his approach to the game is, his playmaking ability. Does he have the capability to be a No. 1 option in a passing game? Yes!”
And what about the blocking? This is the question that keeps coming up, and the reason he was a second-round pick rather than a first-round pick. Stowers only moved from quarterback three years ago. He said desire is not the issue; he’s still learning the technique and refining the skill.
Matthews pointed to specific instances that showcased what Stowers can do when it becomes a consistent part of his repertoire.
“Go watch that Tennessee game,” Matthews said.
Matthews’ time around Stowers convinced him that the blocking will not be an impediment in Stowers’ career — and he even referenced the temperament that Matthews said will go over well with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith in the locker room.
“One, the willingness to get better over the course of the season. But two is like, this guy, technically, already knows he’s going to be a high draft pick,” Matthews said. “He could have easily said, ‘Why should I invest in blocking?’
“…But no, he embraced it, and he wants to do he wants to be better. If this becomes kind of like a theme, ‘Eli is great, but there’s this question about his blocking,’ he’s going to hear that. He’s not going to get sensitive. He’s going to work on it.”
Advertisement
Matthews’ confidence in Stowers already paid off. He helped install a play at Vanderbilt that the Eagles used against Cover-3 defenses with Doug Pederson. The plan was even labeled “Philly.” Stowers ran a dagger route on third-and-21 against South Carolina for a 24-yard gain.
In the meetings, there were questions about whether Stowers could fill that role. Matthews insisted — ”It made me look smart,” he said — and he used it as an example of how Stowers’ game will translate to the NFL. It’s a play that most tight ends wouldn’t make downfield. Stowers is an exception, or perhaps soon the example teams seek.
Before Stowers sat out Vanderbilt’s bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft, Matthews checked with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. Matthews deduced from the conversation that there was not much more the NFL needed to see.
Matthews saw it come to fruition four months later when the Eagles made Stowers the second tight end selected in the draft. Matthews played with Kittle. He played with Ertz. He knows what a top tight end looks like in the NFL. He expects Stowers to become one of them.
“I have no hesitation behind what I’m saying,” Matthews said. “I know that he has a skill set and he has the mindset and he’ll be just fine.”
The production Matthews expects might not come in Year 1. Matthews believes Stowers is capable of a “Sam LaPorta-type year” — a reference to the Detroit Lions’ tight end 86-catch campaign as a rookie in 2023 — but noted that with Smith, Dallas Goedert and Makai Lemon, the volume is unlikely to be present early in Stowers’ career.
The rookie season comparison Matthews made was to the 2017 version of Trey Burton. In that season, Burton was part of a crowded tight end depth chart and was used as a versatile option. The converted college quarterback caught 37 passes for 327 yards while playing 31 percent of the offensive snaps. He also threw a touchdown during the Super Bowl in the Philly Special and earned a $32 million contract (Stowers laughed when a question about the Philly Special came up. “Maybe some day; we’ll see,” he said).
Advertisement
The Eagles have used succession plans at tight end before. Ertz was drafted in the second round to replace Brent Celek eventually. Goedert was drafted in the second round and eventually took over for Ertz. Stowers is in line to replace Goedert — potentially as soon as the 2027 season.
“I personally think he’s a Pro Bowl talent,” Matthews said. “You can see the athletic ability. It’s undeniable. And he always showed up in our biggest games. So do I think he has a chance to be one of those top tight ends in the NFL for multiple years? Yes. The Eagles have already shown with the second-round tight end. He’s in line with that.”
Matthews will follow closely and perhaps witness in person. Stowers is using Matthews as a resource for the adjustment to Philadelphia. Matthews shared who to know and where to live, tips on everything from church to massages. He also wants to return to Philadelphia for a game. His favorite years in the NFL came with the Eagles. This will be his second season of coaching.
“I needed something to bring me back,” Matthews said. “And I think Eli’s going to bring me back.”
Matthews’ sons have a mural in their bedroom depicting him in a No. 81 Eagles jersey. Matthews can show them where he caught his first touchdown from Nick Foles in 2014, or where he caught Carson Wentz’s first touchdown pass in 2016. But this will be a chance to teach more than reminisce. He looked for players he wanted his children to emulate. He found one in Stowers.
“It gives me a good reason to bring the boys back up,” Matthews said, “and say, ‘…Pay attention to him.’ ”
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today's puzzle

source