Mekhi Becton‘s career was completely revived by the Philadelphia Eagles and offensive line coach Jeff Stouland last fall, and now he is onto bigger and better things.
Becton, who signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, in NFL free agency last week, wrote a beautiful letter to his coaches, teammates, and the city on his way out of Philly.
“Philadelphia — thank you. Coming into a new locker room, you never know what to expect. But from early on it was evident that this team was special. The bond we built, the standard we upheld, and the way we showed up for each other every single day. That’s what made this past season the most fun I’ve ever had playing football. And it was all because of the guys we had in the locker room.
“Philadelphia — thank you,” Becton wrote. “Coming into a new locker room, you never know what to expect. But from early on it was evident that this team was special. The bond we built, the standard we upheld, and the way we showed up for each other every single day. That’s what made this past season the most fun I’ve ever had playing football. And it was all because of the guys we had in the locker room.
“To the offensive line, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys to go to battle with. Thank y’all for welcoming me in and for setting the standard for showing me what it truly means to prepare to fight through injuries, to push through the pain and to handle business at the highest level. I learned so much just from being around each of you.
“Coach Jeff Stoutland, thank you. From Day One you believed in me, even before I fully believed in myself, you saw something in me, challenged me and pushed me to reach a level I never knew I had. You made me a better player but more importantly, a better man. What I’ll take away most is your mindset, your attention to detail, and the way you prepare every single day. You set the standard and that will stick with me as I continue my career.
“To the entire Eagles organization, thank you for taking a chance on me. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of something special. Winning a Super Bowl with this team in this city is something I’ll never forget.
“And to the city of Philadelphia, thank you for the passion, the energy, the support — it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Playing in front of you was an honor, and I’ll always carry a piece of Philly with me.”
Becton, a former first-round pick in 2020, joined the Eagles on a one-year deal last spring after playing offensive tackle with the New York Jets for four seasons. Stoutland made the bold decision to move Becton to right guard, and the rest was history. Becton finished 2024 with a 70.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade and ranked 20th among all guards in his first NFL season at right guard.
He also left the Eagles a Super Bowl LIX champion.
While Becton’s fairy tale in Philly is officially over, his book is far from finished.
Best of luck to Becton on the West Coast.