Q. Nice to meet you.
D'ANDRE SWIFT: Nice to meet you as well.
Q. What was your reaction to the trade?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: A lot of emotions. A lot of emotions all at once. But now that it's settled down, couple days into it, excited, happy. New opportunity, new chapter in my life, in my career, and excited to be back home.
Q. Was it a surprise to you that you ended up getting traded and what was Detroit's explanation for that?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: Yeah, so it was a surprise. No real explanation. Everything went through my agent. Like I said a lot of different emotions going up and down.
I'm excited to be here. First and foremost, thank Detroit for everything. The city of Detroit will forever have a place in my heart. Will love them for the opportunity that they gave me to just go out there and live out my dreams.
Like I said, I'm excited for this new chapter.
Q. Detroit tried that tough love approach for you last year during training camp, you know. What was your response to how that went, and do you think the carryover -- do you think it was a fair assumption to think you weren't tough enough when they were trying to put you through that?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: The way it kind of came off I would say I know who I am, what I'm about. I'm as tough as they come. With Hard Knocks and everything kind of how to portray, I didn't like it, but I can't do nothing about it but go out there and showcase what I am and who am and what I'm about, and I know what I can do and who I am.
Q. Welcome back. What is your thoughts about coming home to play in Philadelphia? Sometimes some guys like it. Some guys don't like it. Some guys find it as a distraction. How are you feeling about it?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: I'm excited. I'm happy. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a great organization with tremendous history, a team that's connected.
Just by being in the building these couple days, they're together, they love each other, so I'm excited to build a relationship with the guys in the locker room and be a piece to the puzzle.
Q. Just wanted to ask you what you think -- have you thought about what your role might be here with the team? I know in Detroit maybe got lost a little bit. What are your thoughts on your role in this offense?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: Taking it day by day. I'm focused on just coming in here and just working every single day, earning my keep. Whatever role they see fit for me off the way I come in and work every day will be something I earn.
Q. Welcome back home. The other day Howie was saying how the organization has known you since you were in high school; Dom has known you. What's the background with the organization? How well did you know them in the high school?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: I was in facility a couple times when I was young. Went to St. Joe's Prep and we practiced in the NovaCare Facility when we were in state playoffs and things like that. Real familiar with the area, the people.
Dom told me him and a couple coaches came to my game in high school that I didn't know about. It's kind of cool to hear the memories and things like that.
Q. Just this offensive line, you know, obviously their reputation, have you looked at it from afar? Have you thought what it would be like running behind this group?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: Most definitely. Kind of stayed up last couple nights just thinking about it. Like I said, big opportunity with this offensive line, with this coaching staff. I'm in a great running back room first and foremost with the guys that have been here.
Like I said, I'm excited to get to work each day and be a piece to the puzzle. That's it.
Q. Got a bad connection here, but hopefully you can hear me. What do you remember about that 50-yard run I think on your first or second carry last year? And in general, just your impressions of Eagles from the opposite sideline.
D'ANDRE SWIFT: Uh-huh, kind of wanted to get off to a great start. I knew it was a great opponent we was playing against the first game the season. Kind of wanted to jump start my season with a game like that. I remember the run. I remember a lot of runs basically the whole game. It was a good game for me.
Should have won the game but it was okay. (Smiling.)
Q. You guys obviously won a lot in high school. What did you get from the St. Joe's Prep program? How did that form the player you are right now?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: Oh, man, Prep helped build me characterize-wise on and off the field. Allowed me to mature at young age, so when I got to college I didn't need too much.
I was always person like I'm self-motivated. Nobody ever hs to tell me to go do this, go do that. I want to get better. I want to learn. I'm eager to learn new things and never be complacent. I always get better at something each day.
Q. Hopefully you hear me now. Just wondering about your experience playing running back with a quarterback that can be utilized in the run game in terms of zone read. What kind of experience do you have and how do you think that will play to your benefit with Jalen Hurts here in Philadelphia?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: I haven't had too much experience with a quarterback exactly like Jalen Hurts, but in high school, guy named Marquez McCray was like the closest thing to a running quarterback. The things Jalen does in the passing game, the run game, it's the way I see -- and I'm just outside looking in at how he commands the offense, the leadership, and everything he brings to the team, organization.
I'm grateful to have an opportunity to sit beside him and play.
Q. Howie Roseman mentioned you really got on the radar for a trade possibility when the Lion's took Jahmyr Gibbs wit the 12th overall pick. Is that when you were surprised, is when that pick was made and you thought, now what?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: Most definitely. I don't want to really get too much into it, but just the not knowing factor. Definitely surprised. Like I said, I thank the city of Detroit, the team, the training staff, everybody in the building from top to bottom for everything they gave me for the last three years, but I'm definitely excited for this new journey.
Q. I can only think about what kind of emotions you went threw. Walk us through them, the way that you were feeling, the different emotions, and how you arrived at a place where you became excited about where you are now?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: You're talking about as far as when the pick happened?
Q. Yeah. Just how you processed it. Obviously never...
D'ANDRE SWIFT: It was a lot. It was a lot. Like you said, it's a business at the end of the day so like I understand it, but it's my first time dealing with it so it was a lot of emotions all at one time.
It still is right now. Like I said, just the not knowing factor. Not going to get too much into it, but it's past me now. I'm here. I'm in Philadelphia. I play for the Eagles.
So I'm ready to take on though journey each and every day and go to work every day and earn my keep.
Q. If I can get two questions in. The Georgia players that the Eagles brought in the past two years, how well do you know those guys? Have you spent a lot of time back home in the past three years, or is this your first time really being back home for a while?
D'ANDRE SWIFT: The Georgia question first. I played with Nolan, played with Nakobe, and I played with J.D. It's just a testament to show the job Kirby and his staff does over there preparing players for life after football and NFL next level. Eagles definitely know where to go get their players from.
I do come back home a lot. See my family and things like that when I have time, now that I'm back home, I'm here.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports