Drew Mukuba pulls off a career-1st in NFL preseason debut
Drew Mukuba pulls off a career-1st in NFL preseason debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Eagles rookie Drew Mukuba had just one thought after he picked off a Dillon Gabriel pass early in the second quarter on Saturday.
I already had it in my mind I had to get into the end zone," Mukuba said.
He did.
Mukuba returned that interception 75 yards for touchdown. Not only was this his first NFL preseason game, but that was the first pick-6 in Mukuba's football career - at any level. He surprisingly didn't have a single one in high school or college.
That was my first-ever pick-6," Mukuba said. That was a great feeling. I was just in the right position, read my assignment, read my keys, got a run-pass key and then I was right there where the quarterback was looking. I was surprised he was throwing it because I was literally right there. He ended up throwing it and as soon as I caught it, I already had it in my mind that I had to get in the end zone. I was able to do that. It felt good, though. First pick-6 ever."
And we're on the board pic.twitter.com/i5wbE4yXlw
- Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 16, 2025
Mukuba, 22, had gotten close to a pick-6 before. He pointed out an interception against Florida last season that has stuck with him. Mukuba thinks he should have put a move on the guy who tackled him.
But it was special for Mukuba's first pick-6 to come in his first NFL action. After missing the Eagles' preseason opener with a shoulder injury, Mukuba had a really strong game against the Browns in the Eagles' 22-13 loss.
And with less than three weeks before the regular season opener, Mukuba is making a strong push for a starting job.
Not only did Mukuba pick off a pass on Saturday, but he also had a tackle, a pass breakup and jumped on a fumble in the backfield.
I always thought that he has a knack for the football," head coach Nick Sirianni said. How he practices, watching his tape whether it was at Clemson or at Texas, and he has the ability to take the ball away as a playmaker. Any time you go out there and make a play, that's big. That was exciting, the interception. And even the one when he was there for the fumble recovery after they had a missed exchange.
Guys that have a knack for the football just find ways to be around the football and I think that's what we saw today."
Some guys do just have a knack for takeaways - sort of like C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the Eagles' 2024 defense. With Gardner-Johnson now in Houston, the Eagles need to replace him and that job is coming down to Sydney Brown vs. Mukuba.
Mukuba made his strongest push yet on Saturday.
That's something that I can't control, something out of my control," Mukuba said about the competition. I'm just going to leave it up to the coaches. I feel like at the end of the day, it ain't my decision or anybody else's decision but the coaches. They know. I'm just going to leave that up to them."
While Brown clearly took a lead when Mukuba missed time with that shoulder injury in camp, Mukuba is coming on strong. Reed Blankenship is going to be one of the starting safeties but Brown and Mukuba - both started on Saturday - are fighting for the other job.
A pick-6 in your first NFL game action will go a long way.
I knew it was coming," fellow rookie Jihaad Campbell said. I didn't know when but I knew it was coming. As soon as I seen him pick it, I was running with him. I was really just happy. I was in awe because I know how hard he's worked. He's going to just continue to learn and grow."
While Mukuba gave up one pass for 18 yards against the Browns, he didn't let it affect him. He came back from that and put together a great NFL debut.
Mukuba did make one rookie mistake on Saturday. He threw up on the sideline after his pick-6 when he drank from a bottle he thought was water but was actually a hydration drink. Aside from that, it was a pretty good afternoon.
And he'll never forget his first pick-6.
Mukuba even took the ball with him. He plans on getting it framed and displaying it in his home.
That's a feeling that I want to have all the time," Mukuba said. There's going to be many more, for sure, to come. That was a great feeling to be honest with you, with the crowd behind me, me making a play."