It wasn’t your typical first-round selection. It was a memorable Thursday night that combined a celebration, a statement, and a homecoming. South Jersey and beyond were rocked when the Philadelphia Eagles jumped one spot to select Jihaad Campbell with the 31st overall pick. It was a “homecoming,” according to Campbell, who grew up in Erial, New Jersey, just 20 minutes from Lincoln Financial Field. Despite worries about a torn labrum, the Eagles’ bold deal with the Chiefs, sending selections 32 and 164 to leap one spot. Showed how much they wanted the Alabama linebacker.

Behind the scenes of his epic moment was another person who was changing the NFL’s history: Nicole Lynn. The President of Klutch Football was front and center during Campbell’s unforgettable night.

She shared the big news with pictures of her clients Jihaad Campbell, Tyler Booker, Malaki Starks, and Jalen Milroe on Instagram with the message, “NFL Draft 2025. Grateful for our incredible Klutch team and the best clients in the world! 🫶🏽” It wasn’t merely a flex. That was the exhale of a lady who has spent her entire career breaking down the glass ceiling. As Lynn assisted Campbell in transitioning from his Alabama days to the most significant event in his football career, her words echoed throughout Green Bay. And Nicole Lynn wasn’t merely expressing gratitude to a team at that very moment, amid the brightness of the Green Bay lights, cameras flashing, and dreams coming true. She was showing everyone what she’s capable of.

Where Does Eagles Still Lack Elite Talent?

Let Tony do the scouting, you just make the pick.

Pick your positions. Get Tony’s top 5:

QB

RB

FB

WR

TE

C

CB

DE

DT

G

ILB

OLB

P

PK

S

T

View Tony’s Picks

Last season, with 11.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and a selection to the First Team All-SEC, Campbell led the Crimson Tide in tackles (117). He was selected by CBS Sports as the second-best linebacker in the draft. Although he was selected at number 31, he is the first linebacker the Eagles have selected in the first round since Jerry Robinson in 1979. He is also the most recent member of a long line of Bama Birds, joining players like DeVonta Smith and Jalen Hurts.

Members of Campbell’s Klutch crew, his “Bama Brothers,” Booker and Milroe, and his family all contributed to the draft-night ambience, which was more akin to a family get-together than a business deal, according to the PEOPLE Magazine exclusive. Whether it was impassioned speeches with his agent by his side or suit fittings by the pool, Campbell’s journey was more than simply a literary tale; it was a celebration of belief, community, and perseverance.

The power play: Nicole Lynn shatters ceilings at the 2025 NFL draft

In addition to Jihaad Campbell’s NFL ambition, Nicole Lynn made history by being the only Black woman and the only woman to represent three first-round selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. Breaking glass ceilings, she led Campbell, Tyler Booker, and Malaki Starks into the NFL’s elite as President of Football at Klutch Sports Group.

Lynn’s participation was not merely symbolic; it was revolutionary in a field that is still predominantly white and male. From negotiating a $255 million record contract for Jalen Hurts in 2023 to representing a top-3 pick in 2019, Lynn has completely changed the perception of what power and representation in professional football look like.

Lynn, a University of Oklahoma law graduate and former finance professional, has a strong sense of perseverance. She once told Glamour, “It’s such an uphill battle to be a sports agent in general, and more difficult being a woman, and I would say two times as difficult being a Black woman and under the age of 30.” Despite everything, she is here, supporting her clients on the biggest stage in the NFL and using every setback as motivation.

At the 2025 NFL Draft, Nicole Lynn did more than just manage talent. She demonstrated a movement. Three Black athletes. A single Black woman. All in the first round. If there’s a face of the future in NFL representation, it might just be wearing Hugo Boss and holding a phone that changes lives.