diff --git a/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_eagle.py b/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_eagle.py
index 421da5241555..805b8c86b080 100644
--- a/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_eagle.py
+++ b/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_eagle.py
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ def test_prepare_inputs_padded():
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("attn_backend", get_attn_backend_list_based_on_platform())
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("pp_size", [1, 2])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("use_distinct_embed_tokens", [True, False])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_distinct_lm_head", [True, False])
 @mock.patch("vllm.v1.spec_decode.eagle.get_pp_group")
 @mock.patch("vllm.v1.spec_decode.eagle.get_layers_from_vllm_config")
 @mock.patch("vllm.v1.spec_decode.eagle.get_model")
@@ -335,6 +336,7 @@ def test_load_model(
     attn_backend,
     pp_size,
     use_distinct_embed_tokens,
+    use_distinct_lm_head,
     monkeypatch,
 ):
     monkeypatch.setenv("VLLM_ATTENTION_BACKEND", attn_backend)
@@ -350,12 +352,13 @@ def test_load_model(
 
     # Setup draft model mock
     mock_model = mock.MagicMock()
+    mock_model.model = mock.MagicMock()
+    mock_model.has_own_embed_tokens = use_distinct_embed_tokens
     if use_distinct_embed_tokens:
-        # Some models can have a different hidden size than the target model,
-        # so we test that their embed_tokens doesn't get overwritten
-        mock_model.model.embed_tokens.weight.shape = (131072, 2048)
-    else:
-        mock_model.model.embed_tokens.weight.shape = (131072, 4096)
+        mock_model.model.embed_tokens = mock.MagicMock()
+    mock_model.has_own_lm_head = use_distinct_lm_head
+    if use_distinct_lm_head:
+        mock_model.lm_head = mock.MagicMock()
 
     mock_get_model.return_value = mock_model
 
@@ -391,15 +394,13 @@ def test_load_model(
 
     target_model = mock.create_autospec(_TargetModelStub, instance=True)
     target_model.model = mock.MagicMock()
-    target_model.model.embed_tokens.weight.shape = (131072, 4096)
+    target_model.lm_head = mock.MagicMock()
+    target_model.model.embed_tokens = mock.MagicMock()
 
     from vllm.model_executor.models import SupportsMultiModal
 
     assert not isinstance(target_model, SupportsMultiModal)
 
-    if method == "eagle":
-        target_model.lm_head = mock.MagicMock()
-
     # Create proposer using the helper function
     proposer = _create_proposer(method, num_speculative_tokens=8)
 
@@ -409,18 +410,18 @@ def test_load_model(
     # Verify common interactions
     mock_get_model.assert_called_once()
 
-    # Verify that EAGLE models gain the lm head from the target model
-    if method == "eagle":
-        assert proposer.model.lm_head == target_model.lm_head
+    # Verify that the lm head is set correctly
+    if use_distinct_lm_head:
+        assert proposer.model.lm_head is not target_model.lm_head
+    else:
+        assert proposer.model.lm_head is target_model.lm_head
 
     # Verify that the embed tokens are set correctly
     # If pp_size is > 1, the embed tokens should be distinct
     if pp_size > 1 or use_distinct_embed_tokens:
-        assert proposer.model.model.embed_tokens != target_model.model.embed_tokens
+        assert proposer.model.model.embed_tokens is not target_model.model.embed_tokens
     else:
-        # When pp_size is 1 and the draft and target models have
-        # embed_tokens of the same shape, they should be shared.
-        assert proposer.model.model.embed_tokens == target_model.model.embed_tokens
+        assert proposer.model.model.embed_tokens is target_model.model.embed_tokens
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("method", ["eagle", "eagle3"])
diff --git a/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_mtp.py b/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_mtp.py
index 6d59b58e739e..c5c0491abaf7 100644
--- a/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_mtp.py
+++ b/tests/v1/spec_decode/test_mtp.py
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ def test_mtp_load_model_unified(mock_get_model, mock_get_layers, mock_get_pp_gro
     mock_model = mock.MagicMock()
     mock_model.model.embed_tokens.weight.shape = (131072, 4096)
     mock_get_model.return_value = mock_model
+    # MTP does not have its own embed_tokens or lm_head
+    # so it should share them with the target model
+    mock_model.has_own_embed_tokens = False
+    mock_model.has_own_lm_head = False
 
     target_attn_layers = {"target_attn_1": mock.MagicMock()}
     all_attn_layers = {**target_attn_layers, "draft_attn_1": mock.MagicMock()}
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_eagle.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_eagle.py
index 9e834a73f8e5..3fb04c3b70dd 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_eagle.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_eagle.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from vllm.model_executor.models.deepseek_v2 import (
 )
 from vllm.utils import init_logger
 
-from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix
+from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix, process_eagle_weight
 
 logger = init_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ class EagleDeepseekV3ForCausalLM(DeepseekV3ForCausalLM):
             name, loaded_weight = inputs
             if "lm_head" not in name:
                 name = "model." + name
+            process_eagle_weight(self, name)
             return name, loaded_weight
 
         loader = AutoWeightsLoader(
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_v2.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_v2.py
index 115818d903a6..e8ee9951d611 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_v2.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/deepseek_v2.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ from vllm.v1.attention.backends.mla.indexer import (
 )
 from vllm.v1.kv_cache_interface import KVCacheSpec, MLAAttentionSpec
 
-from .interfaces import MixtureOfExperts, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP
+from .interfaces import MixtureOfExperts, SupportsEagle, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP
 from .utils import (
     PPMissingLayer,
     is_pp_missing_parameter,
@@ -1311,7 +1311,7 @@ class DeepseekV2MixtureOfExperts(MixtureOfExperts):
 
 
 class DeepseekV2ForCausalLM(
-    nn.Module, SupportsPP, DeepseekV2MixtureOfExperts, SupportsLoRA
+    nn.Module, SupportsPP, DeepseekV2MixtureOfExperts, SupportsLoRA, SupportsEagle
 ):
     packed_modules_mapping = {
         "gate_up_proj": ["gate_proj", "up_proj"],
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/interfaces.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/interfaces.py
index 929bfaaee5cb..dc4caf2f02f9 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/interfaces.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/interfaces.py
@@ -932,13 +932,73 @@ def supports_transcription(
 
 
 @runtime_checkable
-class SupportsEagle3(Protocol):
+class SupportsEagleBase(Protocol):
+    """Base interface for models that support EAGLE-based speculative decoding."""
+
+    has_own_lm_head: bool = False
+    """
+    A flag that indicates this model has trained its own lm_head.
+    """
+
+    has_own_embed_tokens: bool = False
+    """
+    A flag that indicates this model has trained its own input embeddings.
+    """
+
+
+@overload
+def supports_any_eagle(model: type[object]) -> TypeIs[type[SupportsEagleBase]]: ...
+
+
+@overload
+def supports_any_eagle(model: object) -> TypeIs[SupportsEagleBase]: ...
+
+
+def supports_any_eagle(
+    model: type[object] | object,
+) -> TypeIs[type[SupportsEagleBase]] | TypeIs[SupportsEagleBase]:
+    """Check if model supports any EAGLE variant (1, 2, or 3)."""
+    return supports_eagle(model) or supports_eagle3(model)
+
+
+@runtime_checkable
+class SupportsEagle(SupportsEagleBase, Protocol):
     """The interface required for models that support
-    EAGLE3 speculative decoding."""
+    EAGLE-1 and EAGLE-2 speculative decoding."""
+
+    supports_eagle: ClassVar[Literal[True]] = True
+    """
+    A flag that indicates this model supports EAGLE-1 and EAGLE-2 
+    speculative decoding.
+
+    Note:
+        There is no need to redefine this flag if this class is in the
+        MRO of your model class.
+    """
+
+
+@overload
+def supports_eagle(model: type[object]) -> TypeIs[type[SupportsEagle]]: ...
+
+
+@overload
+def supports_eagle(model: object) -> TypeIs[SupportsEagle]: ...
+
+
+def supports_eagle(
+    model: type[object] | object,
+) -> TypeIs[type[SupportsEagle]] | TypeIs[SupportsEagle]:
+    return isinstance(model, SupportsEagle)
+
+
+@runtime_checkable
+class SupportsEagle3(SupportsEagleBase, Protocol):
+    """The interface required for models that support
+    EAGLE-3 speculative decoding."""
 
     supports_eagle3: ClassVar[Literal[True]] = True
     """
-    A flag that indicates this model supports EAGLE3 
+    A flag that indicates this model supports EAGLE-3 
     speculative decoding.
 
     Note:
@@ -949,7 +1009,7 @@ class SupportsEagle3(Protocol):
     def set_aux_hidden_state_layers(self, layers: tuple[int, ...]) -> None:
         """
         Set which layers should output auxiliary
-        hidden states for EAGLE3.
+        hidden states for EAGLE-3.
 
         Args:
             layers: Tuple of layer indices that should output auxiliary
@@ -960,7 +1020,7 @@ class SupportsEagle3(Protocol):
     def get_eagle3_aux_hidden_state_layers(self) -> tuple[int, ...]:
         """
         Get the layer indices that should output auxiliary hidden states
-        for EAGLE3.
+        for EAGLE-3.
 
         Returns:
             Tuple of layer indices for auxiliary hidden state outputs.
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama.py
index c49a1ea817f9..0a3f37c30ab5 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ from vllm.model_executor.model_loader.weight_utils import (
 )
 from vllm.sequence import IntermediateTensors
 
-from .interfaces import SupportsEagle3, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP
+from .interfaces import SupportsEagle, SupportsEagle3, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP
 from .utils import (
     AutoWeightsLoader,
     PPMissingLayer,
@@ -529,7 +529,9 @@ class LlamaModel(nn.Module):
         return loaded_params
 
 
-class LlamaForCausalLM(nn.Module, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP, SupportsEagle3):
+class LlamaForCausalLM(
+    nn.Module, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP, SupportsEagle, SupportsEagle3
+):
     packed_modules_mapping = {
         "qkv_proj": ["q_proj", "k_proj", "v_proj"],
         "gate_up_proj": ["gate_proj", "up_proj"],
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama4_eagle.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama4_eagle.py
index e8716d652415..660c8f1bb522 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama4_eagle.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama4_eagle.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from vllm.model_executor.models.llama4 import Llama4DecoderLayer, Llama4ForCausa
 from vllm.model_executor.models.utils import extract_layer_index
 
 from .interfaces import SupportsMultiModal
-from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix
+from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix, process_eagle_weight
 
 logger = init_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ class EagleLlama4ForCausalLM(Llama4ForCausalLM):
             name, weight = self.permute_qk_weight_for_rotary(name, loaded_weight)
             if "lm_head" not in name:
                 name = "model." + name
+            process_eagle_weight(self, name)
             return name, weight
 
         loader = AutoWeightsLoader(
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle.py
index ab2a9f6f06db..0287132c5637 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from vllm.model_executor.layers.vocab_parallel_embedding import VocabParallelEmb
 from vllm.model_executor.model_loader.weight_utils import default_weight_loader
 from vllm.model_executor.models.llama import LlamaDecoderLayer, LlamaForCausalLM
 
-from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix
+from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix, process_eagle_weight
 
 logger = init_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ class EagleLlamaForCausalLM(LlamaForCausalLM):
             name, loaded_weight = inputs
             if "lm_head" not in name:
                 name = "model." + name
+            process_eagle_weight(self, name)
             return name, loaded_weight
 
         loader = AutoWeightsLoader(
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle3.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle3.py
index 6edc9519dfbb..a3bcc5eeb32b 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle3.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/llama_eagle3.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from vllm.model_executor.models.llama import LlamaDecoderLayer, LlamaForCausalLM
 from vllm.multimodal import MULTIMODAL_REGISTRY
 from vllm.multimodal.inputs import NestedTensors
 
-from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix
+from .utils import AutoWeightsLoader, maybe_prefix, process_eagle_weight
 
 logger = init_logger(__name__)
 
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ class Eagle3LlamaForCausalLM(LlamaForCausalLM):
             if "embed_tokens" in name:
                 includes_embed_tokens = True
             model_weights[name] = loaded_weight
+            process_eagle_weight(self, name)
 
         skip_substrs = []
         if not includes_draft_id_mapping:
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/minicpm_eagle.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/minicpm_eagle.py
index 0ca31913485d..d0cdb70aa857 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/minicpm_eagle.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/minicpm_eagle.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ from vllm.model_executor.layers.vocab_parallel_embedding import (
 from vllm.model_executor.model_loader.weight_utils import default_weight_loader
 from vllm.sequence import IntermediateTensors
 
-from .interfaces import SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP
+from .interfaces import SupportsEagle, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP
 from .minicpm import MiniCPMAttention as EagleMiniCPMAttention
 from .minicpm import MiniCPMMLP as EagleMiniCPMMLP
 from .minicpm import MiniCPMMoE as EagleMiniCPMMoE
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ from .utils import (
     is_pp_missing_parameter,
     make_empty_intermediate_tensors_factory,
     maybe_prefix,
+    process_eagle_weight,
 )
 
 
@@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ class EagleMiniCPMModel(nn.Module):
         return loaded_params
 
 
-class EagleMiniCPMForCausalLM(nn.Module, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP):
+class EagleMiniCPMForCausalLM(nn.Module, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP, SupportsEagle):
     packed_modules_mapping = {
         "qkv_proj": [
             "q_proj",
@@ -376,8 +377,13 @@ class EagleMiniCPMForCausalLM(nn.Module, SupportsLoRA, SupportsPP):
         return logits
 
     def load_weights(self, weights: Iterable[tuple[str, torch.Tensor]]) -> set[str]:
+        def transform(inputs):
+            name, loaded_weight = inputs
+            process_eagle_weight(self, name)
+            return name, loaded_weight
+
         loader = AutoWeightsLoader(
             self,
             skip_prefixes=(["lm_head."] if self.config.tie_word_embeddings else None),
         )
-        return loader.load_weights(weights)
+        return loader.load_weights(map(transform, weights))
diff --git a/vllm/model_executor/models/utils.py b/vllm/model_executor/models/utils.py
index e5663c8a057a..0d811fbc7585 100644
--- a/vllm/model_executor/models/utils.py
+++ b/vllm/model_executor/models/utils.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from vllm.distributed import (
 )
 from vllm.logger import init_logger
 from vllm.model_executor.model_loader.weight_utils import default_weight_loader
+from vllm.model_executor.models.interfaces import supports_any_eagle
 from vllm.multimodal import NestedTensors
 from vllm.sequence import IntermediateTensors
 from vllm.utils.math_utils import cdiv
@@ -825,3 +826,25 @@ direct_register_custom_op(
     fake_impl=sequence_parallel_chunk_impl_fake,
     tags=(torch.Tag.needs_fixed_stride_order,),
 )
+
+
+def process_eagle_weight(
+    model: nn.Module,
+    name: str,
+) -> None:
+    """
+    Update EAGLE model flags based on loaded weight name.
+    This should be called during weight loading to detect if a model
+    has its own lm_head or embed_tokens weight.
+    Args:
+        model: The model instance (must support EAGLE)
+        name: The name of the weight to process
+    """
+    if not supports_any_eagle(model):
+        return
+
+    # To prevent overriding with target model's layers
+    if "lm_head" in name:
+        model.has_own_lm_head = True
+    if "embed_tokens" in name:
+        model.has_own_embed_tokens = True
diff --git a/vllm/v1/spec_decode/eagle.py b/vllm/v1/spec_decode/eagle.py
index f3b34544f8d9..ed602f39d0f9 100644
--- a/vllm/v1/spec_decode/eagle.py
+++ b/vllm/v1/spec_decode/eagle.py
@@ -991,6 +991,7 @@ class EagleProposer:
             target_language_model = target_model.get_language_model()
         else:
             target_language_model = target_model
+
         # share embed_tokens with the target model if needed
         if get_pp_group().world_size == 1:
             if hasattr(target_language_model.model, "embed_tokens"):
@@ -1002,52 +1003,92 @@ class EagleProposer:
                     "Target model does not have 'embed_tokens' or 'embedding' attribute"
                 )
 
-            # Check if shapes match and we found the embedding
-            eagle_shape = self.model.model.embed_tokens.weight.shape
-            target_shape = target_embed_tokens.weight.shape
-            if eagle_shape == target_shape:
-                logger.info(
-                    "Assuming the EAGLE head shares the same vocab embedding"
-                    " with the target model."
-                )
-                del self.model.model.embed_tokens
-                self.model.model.embed_tokens = target_embed_tokens
+            share_embeddings = False
+            if hasattr(self.model, "has_own_embed_tokens"):
+                # EAGLE model
+                if not self.model.has_own_embed_tokens:
+                    share_embeddings = True
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Detected EAGLE model without its own embed_tokens in the"
+                        " checkpoint. Sharing target model embedding weights with the"
+                        " draft model."
+                    )
+                elif (
+                    isinstance(target_embed_tokens.weight, torch.Tensor)
+                    and isinstance(self.model.model.embed_tokens.weight, torch.Tensor)
+                    and torch.equal(
+                        target_embed_tokens.weight, self.model.model.embed_tokens.weight
+                    )
+                ):
+                    share_embeddings = True
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Detected EAGLE model with embed_tokens identical to the target"
+                        " model. Sharing target model embedding weights with the draft"
+                        " model."
+                    )
+                else:
+                    logger.info(
+                        "Detected EAGLE model with distinct embed_tokens weights. "
+                        "Keeping separate embedding weights from the target model."
+                    )
             else:
+                # MTP model
+                share_embeddings = True
                 logger.info(
-                    "The EAGLE head's vocab embedding will be loaded separately"
-                    " from the target model."
+                    "Detected MTP model. "
+                    "Sharing target model embedding weights with the draft model."
                 )
+
+            if share_embeddings:
+                if hasattr(self.model.model, "embed_tokens"):
+                    del self.model.model.embed_tokens
+                self.model.model.embed_tokens = target_embed_tokens
         else:
             logger.info(
-                "The EAGLE head's vocab embedding will be loaded separately"
+                "The draft model's vocab embedding will be loaded separately"
                 " from the target model."
             )
 
         # share lm_head with the target model if needed
-        # some model definition do not define lm_head explicitly
-        # and reuse embed_tokens for lm_head, e.g., CohereForCausalLM
-        if self.vllm_config.speculative_config.method != "eagle3":
-            if hasattr(target_language_model, "lm_head"):
-                logger.info("Loading EAGLE LM head weights from the target model.")
-                self.model.lm_head = target_language_model.lm_head
-        else:
-            if (
-                hasattr(self.model, "lm_head")
-                and hasattr(target_language_model, "lm_head")
-                and self.model.lm_head.weight.shape
-                == target_language_model.lm_head.weight.shape
-            ):
+        share_lm_head = False
+        if hasattr(self.model, "has_own_lm_head"):
+            # EAGLE model
+            if not self.model.has_own_lm_head:
+                share_lm_head = True
                 logger.info(
-                    "Assuming the EAGLE head shares the same lm_head"
-                    " with the target model."
+                    "Detected EAGLE model without its own lm_head in the checkpoint. "
+                    "Sharing target model lm_head weights with the draft model."
+                )
+            elif (
+                hasattr(target_language_model, "lm_head")
+                and isinstance(target_language_model.lm_head.weight, torch.Tensor)
+                and isinstance(self.model.lm_head.weight, torch.Tensor)
+                and torch.equal(
+                    target_language_model.lm_head.weight, self.model.lm_head.weight
+                )
+            ):
+                share_lm_head = True
+                logger.info(
+                    "Detected EAGLE model with lm_head identical to the target model. "
+                    "Sharing target model lm_head weights with the draft model."
                 )
-                del self.model.lm_head
-                self.model.lm_head = target_language_model.lm_head
             else:
                 logger.info(
-                    "The EAGLE head's lm_head will be loaded separately"
-                    " from the target model."
+                    "Detected EAGLE model with distinct lm_head weights. "
+                    "Keeping separate lm_head weights from the target model."
                 )
+        else:
+            # MTP model
+            share_lm_head = True
+            logger.info(
+                "Detected MTP model. "
+                "Sharing target model lm_head weights with the draft model."
+            )
+
+        if share_lm_head and hasattr(target_language_model, "lm_head"):
+            if hasattr(self.model, "lm_head"):
+                del self.model.lm_head
+            self.model.lm_head = target_language_model.lm_head
 
     @torch.inference_mode()
     def dummy_run(