Xavier Gipson could be sulking or whining or feeling bad for himself. But he’s not doing any of those things. The 24-year-old has kept a refreshingly positive outlook on his current situation for one big reason.
His kids are watching.
“I can’t teach my son how to go through stuff when I gave up, you know what I’m saying? I can’t do that,” Gipson said this week. “They give me a little gas and fuel to push through this adversity and benefit from it.”
Gipson has two little ones at home. His son Omarion is 4 and his daughter Malani is 3. He wants to set a positive example for his kids and this is a perfect opportunity for that.
The Eagles claimed Gipson off waivers back on Sept. 22, but despite some struggles in the return game, Gipson has been inactive each of his first three weeks with the Eagles.
And after playing in all 34 games with the Jets in his first two NFL seasons, Gipson has played in just one game this season. He lost a costly fumble in the Jets’ Week 1 opener and was released. He then joined the Giants and was released by them too.
“Your next move has to be better than your last mistake,” Gipson said.
It has been a tough 2025 season for the 5-foot-9 receiver/return specialist, but his outlook has remained overwhelmingly positive.
How has he kept that mindset?
“Having faith,” Gipson said with a wide smile. “These last few months have been crazy, not just football for me. The outside world too. Just keeping a positive mindset. I’ve always had positive people that’s been around me in my circle.
“This is what I do, it’s not who I am. I got kids at home. I got a family. So at the end of the day, this is what I do. This is how I take care of my family. Being around my family, they’re positive. Life is going to hit everyone, everyone is going to go through something in they life. It’s about how you bounce back. Don’t let the world beat you down, beat the world down.”
When asked about the craziness he mentioned off the football field, Gipson reached into his locker stall and pulled out the program from his grandmother’s funeral. She died just a couple weeks ago and Gipson is grateful he was able to attend her services in Louisiana before returning to Philadelphia for the Broncos game.
“She’s my baby,” Gipson said as he carefully placed the program back on the shelf in his locker.
Gipson has an awful lot of perspective for a 24-year-old but he says he’s grown up a lot over the last few years. He initially made the Jets’ roster as an undrafted rookie out of Stephen F. Austin in 2023. That summer, he became a fan favorite on HBO’s Hard Knocks as viewers followed his story in training camp.
Over the last two seasons, Gipson was the Jets’ primary punt and kick returner, so he has a ton of experience. In his NFL career, Gipson has returned 68 punts with an average of 8.9 yards per return and a touchdown; he has returned 44 kickoffs with an average of 26.0 yards per return.
Given the Eagles’ struggles to find consistent returners, especially on kickoff, it might finally be time to see what Gipson can do.
“I gotta build my trust with them,” Gipson said. “I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job of doing that and taking it day by day and step by step.”
How do you build trust with a new team?
“Just working it,” he said. “Just showing them I’m not here for no image or nothing. I’m here to help win or play whatever part they need me to play to help them. If that’s to get them water, so be it. If that’s being a quarterback, I will.”
While Gipson would obviously love to be active and see game action — every NFL player wants to play — he isn’t stressing about it. He’s trying to make sure he’s as prepared as possible for whenever that opportunity comes.
That could very well be this week in Minnesota.
But if not, Gipson vows to remain positive. And even though he hasn’t played a single snap for the Eagles yet, he feels at home in Philadelphia with his new teammates.
“Man, they full of joy, positivity,” Gipson said. “Right now we’re going through the same thing. Adversity. These guys are not even wavering and it’s giving me even more strength.”