Dallas Goedert wore long sleeves in the summertime. Sometimes, he kept his shirt on in the swimming pool or skipped sun-tanning sessions with friends. There was one thing always in the back of his mind, causing him mental angst and physical discomfort — plaque psoriasis.
Goedert started suffering from the chronic autoimmune condition that affects roughly 6.7 million adults when he was 10 years old. The inflammatory skin disease causes cells to reproduce rapidly, every three to four days, which results in thick, scaly patches known as plaques. Those red badges of annoyance can be both itchy and embarrassing, especially for a young kid sweating profusely underneath football pads.
“Ever since I was about 10 years old, I’ve been living with plaque psoriasis,” Goedert told Philly Sports Network. “And for me being a football player, you want to be focused on the game and not focused on the itchy plaques showing up before a big game or things like that.
“Even as a kid, you know, I’d skip days going to the pool because I’d have plaques on my body and I didn’t want other people to see them. And, so, it’s definitely affected my life. I just wanted to come out as a professional athlete and be a spokesman for it and let people know that you can find a treatment that’s going to help you. I just think it’s an important topic.”
Topical creams have long been prescribed to quell the pain, but those ointments need to be applied and re-applied to the affected areas. It’s a step-and-repeat process that can be problematic on gamedays.
That’s why Goedert opted to start taking Otezla (apremilast), an oral pill manufactured by Amgen, that calms breakouts and soothes skin from within the body. He doesn’t have to worry about lathering up on the sideline.
“I’ve never had to come out of a game because of it, but it’s just always in the back of your mind,” Goedert said. “You’re worried that, you know, the plaques are gonna show up on your skin and you’re gonna rush to put topicals on them and treat them after they show up.”
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis, affecting “about 80 to 90 percent of people living with psoriasis,” according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Goedert, leveraging his platform as a celebrity-athlete, partnered with Amgen to raise awareness for this sometimes-misunderstood disease.
“People would say what’s that on your skin? What’s wrong with you? So, I would just let people know what it is and why it’s there,” Goedert said. “A doctor can probably do a better job of telling you all of the true things of why they’re there and how they come. But, for me, being proactive about it was always the best.”
As Goedert noted, people suffering from plaque psoriasis should always consult their doctors first on best treatment plans. Like anything in life, explore all options.
“You can go to dallasgstory.com, and it’ll tell you more about my story,” Goedert said. “And it’ll also give you tips to talking about your doctor that’s going to be able to find a treatment plan that that works best for you and your life. I partnered with Amgen. I’m taking an Amgen medicine that treats from within the body. So, I think that’s really important.”
Super Bowl Champion … Ready to Repeat?
The Eagles selected Dallas Goedert (49) in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the third tight end to go off the board, behind Hayden Hurst (25) and Mike Gesicki (42). Following a 40-22 thrashing of the Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX in 2025, Goedert is the only one with a Super Bowl ring.
“It was an incredible experience, winning the Super Bowl,” Goedert said. “You know, every other year in my career, I’ve always ended my season on a loss, and this was the first time I got to end my season on a win.”
Six months later, Goedert is finally coming off the high of kissing the Lombardi Trophy. Six OTA practices this spring, coupled with a one-day minicamp in June, certainly snapped him back to reality.
“It just feels like the last four months I’ve been a winner,” Goedert said. “It’s been a cool feeling, but at the same time, you know, Coach Sirianni has been doing a really good job of having us focus on where we’re at now, what’s up to what’s up and coming.”
Sirianni used the term “sustained success'” when addressing the differences between winning a Super Bowl versus losing one, which happened to Goedert and the Eagles at Super Bowl LVII in 2023. It’s a delicate balance and the team has filed last year away. Time to move on — no matter what Saquon Barkley says about starting a new dynasty.
“We talked about how winning it one time is hard and going back is even harder because we have a target on our back,” Goedert said. “But I think we’ve done a good job of making sure we’re doing everything right. You know, just because we were good last year doesn’t mean we’re going to be good this year. We have to put in the work — the same amount of work, if not even more. And it’s been cool to see the leaders on the team … Jalen [Hurts], Saquon [Barkley], people like that. It seems like they’re working harder than ever just because they know the stakes that are ahead of us, what’s able to come.
“And, you know, I think winning that first one, gave us a taste and, just made us even more hungry to go out there and, try to do it again. Obviously, there’s a lot that goes into it. You gotta stay healthy and everything’s gotta work out right. But, I think we’re on a good path. I think we had a good offseason setting us up for success to be able to continue to grow on the foundation that we have set.”
Restructured Contract … ‘So Many Emotions’
Goedert was feeling a bit nervous back in March. The 30-year-old was entering the final year of a four-year deal that paid him north of $14 million per season. Trade rumors were running rampant, with scant news on extension talks. Then, in May, Goedert agreed to restructure his contract and take a pay cut. He’ll earn $10 million for the 2025 season, according to ESPN.
“There were days where my agent said that it was gonna happen tomorrow,” Goedert said of the uncertainty this offseason. “You know, so I’d go to bed and get up and sit and wait for a call from my agent because I thought I was leaving. There were so many emotions that went into it. I was sad about possibly leaving Philadelphia, but it was also exciting to think about going to a new city and a new experience.”
The one-year contract doesn’t guarantee Goedert’s long-term future in Philadelphia, although his decision to take a pay cut showed his commitment to the franchise. That one move went a long way in helping the Eagles free up much-needed money for rookies and free agents.
“I was really happy we were able to get a contract done,” Goedert said. “I’m excited that I’m able to stay with this team and stay in the city and have the opportunity to defend ourselves one more year.”
New Tight End Room, No Problem
The Eagles added two shiny new tight ends in free agency — Kylen Granson and Harrison Bryant. Those two guys will be fighting former sixth-rounder Grant Calcaterra for the backup spot behind Goedert, with undrafted veterans E.J. Jenkins and Cameron Latu getting closer looks.
Granson and Bryant have enjoyed moderate NFL success, including 50 combined starts. Their signings had initially triggered people to think Goedert’s days might be numbered.
Now, everyone is working together in the tight ends room. Goedert has already taken on a mentor’s role — just like Zach Ertz did for him way back in 2018.
“Being able to play with Zach my first three years, I was able to learn a lot. And, you know, that’s something that I care about,” Goedert said. “I think the best personnel in football is with two tight ends on the field. So, it makes my job easier having another one of us out there.
“So I wanna try to bring everybody up, as fast as I can — get them up to speed, get them on the field, and, you know, I want them to be good and push me to be even better because when you have someone coming for your job, when you’re competing against other people, like we say all the time, iron sharpens iron.”
Granson, in particular, has stood out from the pack, especially his mega-watt personality. Fans need only to follow him — and his hilarious wife, Daisy Foko — on Instagram to know how much fun he’s going to bring into the locker room. (For example: the couple posted a Philly food review with cheesesteaks).
Not surprisingly, Goedert confirmed Granson’s extrovert status while calling Bryant the more reserved of the two new Eagles tight ends.
“One of them is shy. One of them is a little bit more outgoing,” Goedert said. “But it seems like all tight ends are kinda the same. You know? We like to have fun out there on the football field.”
One fun thing, the tight ends have been playing pranks on each other at the practice facility. Goedert said they like to hide in corners of the NovaCare Complex, jumping out for sneak attacks like something out of a Tim Robinson sketch.
“We’re all a little bit of jokesters,” Goedert said. “One of my favorite things that we do around the tight end room is, when we go from meeting to meeting, there’s always somebody hiding around the corner getting ready to scare the other person. So, it’s been fun to get to know him [Granson]. And, like I said, we’ll continue to grow as a tight end group, and, excited to see where it takes us.”
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
