Milwaukee native and Wisconsin Badgers alum Zack Baun is a Super Bowl champion as his team Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs.
It was a storybook ending for Braun just a year ago was still with the New Orleans Saints.
To him, to win the highest award in professional American football in the place where everything started for him is poetic.
“[It was] a wild year that needs to be documented for sure,” Baun said. “Maybe I’ll write a little book on it because it’s been crazy. From my son being born in April and moving to Philly three weeks later and getting to know the guys, the city, and moving my family.
“A lot of ups and downs, but the team and the guys embraced me and my family and just made us feel really comfortable. And accolades, personal accolades, with the Super Bowl being the biggest and the most meaningful one.”
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Baun was drafted 74th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020. He spent his first four seasons there but played just two playoff games in total.
He transferred to the Eagles at the start of the 2024 season by signing a one-year contract.
Zack Baun’s successful 2024 season
Baun now has both an individual and team award in his name. That won’t be possible though without his hard work.
Talking to reporters after their Super Bowl victory, he advised other players to just stick through it all.
“It’s crazy,” Baun said. “It’s wild. I don’t think I could have written a better story than this. I mean, grinding it out in New Orleans for four years, to come in here and doing this with this team, it’s so special.
“The best I can say is just keep going, through tough times, through good times. You’ve got to be stoic through it all. Embrace the journey and not focus on the result.”
Baun won the 2024 Pro Bowl in his first year with the Eagles and the people gave him award must be smiling after his game-changing play against the Chiefs.
The 28-year-old linebacker finished the game seven tackles, one interception, and one pass deflection. None is probably bigger than the pivotal second-quarter interception on Patrick Mahomes, leading to a touch down that gave them a 24-0 lead entering the half time.
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