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Jared Verse shines (and talks) in NFL playoff game featuring distinct FSU flair

On3 imageby:Corey Clark•about 13 hours•

Corey_Clark

On3 image
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) scores a touchdown past Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) in the first half in a 2025 NFC divisional round game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Jared Verse had already made a name for himself in the NFL before Sunday afternoon. He is the presumptive Defensive Rookie of the Year and was coming off a wildcard playoff win in which he returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Now, he’s even more well-known.

Despite suffering a playoff loss in the driving snow in Philadelphia, the former Florida State All-American walked the walk after talking the talk (he always does that!) in the Los Angeles Rams’ 28-22 defeat in the NFL Divisional Round.

Verse, who grew up in Berwick, Pa., made headlines earlier in the week when he had some not-so-nice things to say about the fans he’d be playing in front of on Sunday.

“I hate Eagles fans,” he said. “They’re so annoying. When I see that green and white, I hate it. I actually get upset. Like, I actually get genuinely hot.”

So, Verse was already Villain No. 1 before the game. He absolutely lived up to that billing during the game.

Verse finished with four tackles, three for loss and two sacks in the narrow loss. He and fellow FSU product Braden Fiske became the first rookie duo in Rams history to each record a sack in the same postseason game. They are the first rookie tandem to accomplish that feat at all in an NFL playoff game since 2018.

Unfortunately, Fiske injured his knee on his sack of Jalen Hurts in the first half and didn’t play again.

Verse kept playing, though. And kept talking.

He routinely played up to the crowd, to the opposing linemen and even to the Eagles’ sideline.

He and Philadelphia star Saquon Barkley exchanged words multiple times during the game, including on Barkley’s long TD run in the first half when the running back looked back and mocked Verse as he sped into the end zone.

Verse got some laughs of his own, however, including multiple tackles on Barkley near the line of scrimmage. And, of course, the two sacks of Hurts. He also helped Barkley up off the ground after a tackle for loss in the fourth quarter.

The first-round pick and Fiske weren’t the only former Florida State linemen to have productive games on Sunday.

Veteran defensive lineman Josh Sweat had a tackle for loss for the Eagles.

The Rams’ Keir Thomas, who played for the Seminoles in 2021, had two tackles and helped finish off a sack in the end zone for a safety in the second half

It was a good day for Florida State head coach Mike Norvell to be in attendance.

Not only did he get to see Verse, Fiske and Thomas make plays, but he also got to see former FSU wide receiver Johnny Wilson, who plays for the Eagles, before the game.

The Eagles’ backup running back, Kenneth Gainwell, also played for Norvell for multiple seasons at Memphis before entering the NFL Draft in 2020.

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