Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, competing in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the NFC East division. Founded in 1933, the Eagles are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history and command one of the most passionate—and infamous—fanbases in professional sports.[1]
The Eagles have won four NFL championships, including Super Bowl LII following the 2017 season, when backup quarterback Nick Foles led a stunning upset over the New England Patriots. The team plays at Lincoln Financial Field in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
History
Founding and Early Years (1933-1957)
The Eagles were founded in 1933 as part of the NFL's expansion during the Great Depression:
- 1933 — Franchise established for $2,500, named for the Blue Eagle symbol of the National Recovery Administration (NRA)
- Bert Bell — Co-founder, later NFL Commissioner
- Early years marked by struggle and losing seasons
- 1943 — Merged with Pittsburgh Steelers as "Steagles" due to WWII player shortages
- 1944 — Merged with Chicago Cardinals as "Card-Pitt"
The Championship Era (1947-1960)
The Eagles emerged as a dynasty in the late 1940s and 1950s:
Back-to-Back Championships
- 1948 NFL Championship — Defeated Chicago Cardinals 7-0 in a blizzard at Shibe Park
- 1949 NFL Championship — Defeated Los Angeles Rams 14-0 in rain at LA Coliseum
- Only team to win back-to-back championship games by shutout
- Featured Hall of Famers Steve Van Buren, Pete Pihos, Chuck Bednarik
The 1960 Championship
- 1960 NFL Championship — Defeated Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers 17-13
- Chuck Bednarik's famous tackle of Jim Taylor on the final play
- Last NFL championship game Lombardi ever lost
- Featured Norm Van Brocklin, Tommy McDonald, Bednarik
- Remains a defining moment in franchise history
The Wilderness Years (1961-1978)
Following the 1960 championship, the Eagles entered a prolonged period of struggle:
- No playoff appearances for 18 years
- Multiple coaching changes
- Move from Franklin Field to Veterans Stadium (1971)
- Some notable players: Harold Carmichael, Bill Bergey, Wilbert Montgomery
The Vermeil Era (1976-1982)
Dick Vermeil brought the Eagles back to prominence:
- 1976 — Vermeil hired from UCLA
- 1978 — First playoff appearance since 1960
- 1979 — "Miracle at the Meadowlands" — Herman Edwards' fumble return for touchdown
- 1980 — Super Bowl XV appearance (lost to Oakland Raiders 27-10)
- Wilbert Montgomery, Ron Jaworski, Harold Carmichael*** starred
- Vermeil resigned in 1982 citing burnout
The Buddy Ryan Era (1986-1990)
Buddy Ryan brought swagger and a ferocious defense:
- 1986 — Ryan hired from Chicago Bears (where he designed the "46 Defense")
- Built one of the NFL's most feared defenses
- Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Seth Joyner, Clyde Simmons
- Three consecutive playoff appearances (1988-1990)
- Famous for trash talk and physical play
- "Bounty Bowl" controversy with Dallas Cowboys
- Fog Bowl (1988) — Playoff loss to Chicago in dense fog
- Never advanced past divisional round; fired after 1990 season
The Kotite and Rhodes Years (1991-1998)
A period of transition and frustration:
- Rich Kotite (1991-1994) — Promising start, collapsed finish
- Jerome Brown's death (1992)*** — Beloved defensive tackle killed in car accident
- Reggie White's departure (1993) — Signed with Green Bay as free agent
- Ray Rhodes (1995-1998) — 1995 Coach of the Year, declined afterward
- Move to NFC East's new alignment
The Andy Reid Dynasty (1999-2012)
Andy Reid transformed the Eagles into perennial contenders:
Building a Powerhouse
- 1999 — Reid hired; drafted Donovan McNabb #2 overall
- 2000*** — First playoff appearance under Reid
- 2001-2004 — Four consecutive NFC Championship games
- 2002, 2003, 2004 — Lost three straight NFC Championships
Finally Breaking Through
- 2004 Season — Acquired Terrell Owens
- 2004 NFC Championship — Defeated Atlanta Falcons 27-10
- Super Bowl XXXIX (February 2005) — Lost to New England Patriots 24-21
- Controversial final drive, clock management questioned
The Later Reid Years
- 2005-2012*** — Continued competitiveness but no Super Bowl return
- Michael Vick*** (2009-2013) — Controversial signing, spectacular 2010 season
- DeSean Jackson's*** "Miracle at the New Meadowlands" (2010) — Punt return to beat Giants
- 2012 — Reid's final season, fired after 14 years
Reid Era Legacy
- 140-102-1 regular season record
- 10 playoff appearances in 14 seasons
- 4 NFC Championship appearances
- Longest-tenured coach in Eagles history
- Revolutionized West Coast Offense concepts
Chip Kelly's Experiment (2013-2015)
Chip Kelly brought innovation and controversy:
- 2013-2014 — Up-tempo offense, back-to-back 10-win seasons
- 2015 — Given personnel control; made dramatic roster changes
- Traded DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Nick Foles
- Acquired Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray, Kiko Alonso
- Fired after 6-9 start to 2015; finished by Pat Shurmur
- Brief, polarizing tenure
Super Bowl Champions (2016-Present)
Doug Pederson and Super Bowl LII
- 2016 — Doug Pederson hired; Carson Wentz drafted #2 overall
- 2017 Regular Season — Wentz emerged as MVP candidate
- Week 14, 2017 — Wentz tears ACL; Nick Foles takes over
- Playoffs — Foles leads Eagles as underdogs
Super Bowl LII
February 4, 2018 — Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33
One of the greatest Super Bowls ever played:
- Eagles entered as 5.5-point underdogs to dynasty Patriots
- The Philly Special — Foles catches touchdown pass on 4th-and-goal trick play
- Foles threw for 373 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Nick Foles*** named Super Bowl MVP
- Defense forced late fumble to seal victory
- First Super Bowl championship in franchise history
- City erupted in historic celebration
The Celebration
- Estimated 700,000+ attended parade
- Fans climbed poles greased with Crisco
- Jason Kelce's legendary speech in Mummers costume
- Bud Light's "Philly Philly" campaign
- Unified city in euphoric catharsis
Post-Super Bowl Era
- 2018*** — Defended NFC East title; "Double Doink" playoff win vs. Chicago
- 2019*** — Injuries plagued season; lost Wild Card round
- 2020*** — 4-11-1 season; Pederson fired; Wentz traded
- 2021*** — Jalen Hurts era begins under Nick Sirianni
- 2022*** — 14-3 record; Super Bowl LVII appearance (lost to Kansas City 38-35)
- 2023-present*** — Continued contention
Championships
NFL Championships (Pre-Super Bowl)
| Year | Opponent | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Chicago Cardinals | 7-0 | Shibe Park (blizzard) |
| 1949 | Los Angeles Rams | 14-0 | Los Angeles Coliseum |
| 1960 | Green Bay Packers | 17-13 | Franklin Field |
Super Bowl Appearances
| Super Bowl | Date | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XV | January 25, 1981 | Oakland Raiders | 10-27 | Loss |
| XXXIX | February 6, 2005 | New England Patriots | 21-24 | Loss |
| LII | February 4, 2018 | New England Patriots | 41-33 | Win |
| LVII | February 12, 2023 | Kansas City Chiefs | 35-38 | Loss |
Legendary Players
Hall of Famers
| Player | Position | Years | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Bednarik | C/LB | 1949-1962 | "Concrete Charlie," last 60-minute man |
| Reggie White | DE | 1985-1992 | "Minister of Defense," 124 sacks with Eagles |
| Steve Van Buren | RB | 1944-1951 | 4x rushing champion, championship hero |
| Brian Dawkins | S | 1996-2008 | "Weapon X," emotional leader |
| Tommy McDonald | WR | 1957-1963 | 1960 championship star |
| Sonny Jurgensen | QB | 1957-1963 | Prolific passer |
| Pete Pihos | TE/DE | 1947-1955 | Championship-era star |
| Terrell Owens | WR | 2004-2005 | Controversial but electric |
| Harold Carmichael | WR | 1971-1983 | 6'8" receiving threat |
Eagles Legends (Not Yet HOF)
- Donovan McNabb — Franchise quarterback (1999-2009)
- Brian Westbrook — Versatile offensive weapon
- Randall Cunningham — Revolutionary athletic QB
- Ron Jaworski — "Jaws," Super Bowl XV quarterback
- Seth Joyner — Buddy Ryan-era linebacker
- Jerome Brown — All-Pro DT, died tragically in 1992
- Trent Cole — Prolific pass rusher
- Jason Kelce*** — All-Pro center, Super Bowl champion, Mummers speech legend
- Fletcher Cox — Dominant interior defender
- Lane Johnson — Elite offensive tackle
Iconic Moments
The Greatest Moments
- 1948 Championship Blizzard Game — Van Buren's touchdown in driving snow
- Bednarik's Hit on Gifford (1960) — "This game is over!"
- 1960 Championship Final Tackle — Bednarik stops Jim Taylor
- Miracle at the Meadowlands (1978) — Herman Edwards' fumble return
- 4th and 26 (2003) — Freddie Mitchell's conversion vs. Packers in playoffs
- Miracle at the New Meadowlands (2010) — DeSean Jackson's punt return
- The Philly Special (2018) — Super Bowl trick play
- Jason Kelce's Parade Speech (2018) — "No one likes us, we don't care!"
- Strip Sack on Brady (2018) — Brandon Graham forces fumble to seal Super Bowl
Infamous Moments
- Snowball Game (1968) — Fans pelt Santa Claus with snowballs
- Bounty Bowl (1989)*** — Accused bounties on Dallas kicker
- Terrell Owens Saga (2005) — Suspension and acrimonious departure
- Super Bowl XXXIX Clock (2005) — Criticized time management
- Super Bowl LVII Collapse (2023) — Blew 10-point lead in second half
Rivalries
Dallas Cowboys
The most intense rivalry in the NFL:
- Hatred runs deep*** — Philosophical, cultural, and sporting divide
- "America's Team" vs. Philadelphia's blue-collar identity
- Bounty Bowl*** — 1989 accusations of Eagles placing bounties
- Buddy Ryan*** vs. Jimmy Johnson coaching wars
- Every game carries enormous weight regardless of record
New York Giants
Historical NFC East battles:
- Two "Miracles at the Meadowlands" — 1978 and 2010
- Close geographic proximity adds intensity
- Classic defensive battles
- Chuck Bednarik's hit on Frank Gifford became iconic moment
Washington Commanders
Division rivalry:
- Long history in NFC East
- Physical games
- Less intense than Dallas/Giants but always competitive
The Fans
Reputation
Philadelphia Eagles fans are legendary—and notorious:
- Consistently rated among most passionate in NFL
- E-A-G-L-E-S chant — Thunderous stadium ritual
- Notorious for booing—including their own team when warranted
- Throwing snowballs at Santa Claus (1968) — Infamous incident
- Batteries at J.D. Drew*** — Phillies game, but same fans
- Vet Stadium jail*** — Veterans Stadium had a courtroom for arrests
The Real Story
Beyond the reputation:
- Fiercely loyal through decades of heartbreak
- Blue-collar, no-nonsense attitude mirrors the city
- Demand effort and authenticity from players
- Will embrace players who embrace Philadelphia
- Jason Kelce*** became folk hero by embodying these values
- Brian Dawkins*** worshipped for his emotional intensity
The Super Bowl Celebration
The Super Bowl LII celebration became legendary:
- Fans climbed poles despite Crisco grease
- An estimated 700,000+ at the parade
- Restrained property damage despite expectations
- Pure, cathartic joy after decades of heartbreak
Fight Song
"Fly, Eagles Fly" has been the team's fight song since 1959:
Fly, Eagles fly, on the road to victory!
Fight, Eagles fight, score a touchdown 1-2-3!
Hit 'em low, hit 'em high, and watch our Eagles fly!
Fly, Eagles fly, on the road to victory!
E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!
The song plays after every Eagles score at Lincoln Financial Field, with fans singing along passionately.
Swoop
Swoop has been the Eagles' official mascot since 1996:
- Green eagle character
- Performs at games and community events
- Popular with younger fans
- Less central to fan experience than traditions like the fight song
Lincoln Financial Field
The Eagles have played at Lincoln Financial Field since 2003:
- Capacity*** — 69,796
- Known as*** — "The Linc"
- Location — South Philadelphia Sports Complex
- Atmosphere*** — Among the loudest in the NFL
- Previous home: Veterans Stadium (1971-2002)
Coaching History
Notable Head Coaches
| Coach | Years | Record | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greasy Neale | 1941-1950 | 66-44-5 | 2 NFL Championships |
| Buck Shaw | 1958-1960 | 20-16-1 | 1960 NFL Championship |
| Dick Vermeil | 1976-1982 | 57-51-0 | Super Bowl XV |
| Buddy Ryan | 1986-1990 | 43-35-1 | Built legendary defense |
| Andy Reid | 1999-2012 | 140-102-1 | 4 NFC Championships, Super Bowl XXXIX |
| Doug Pederson | 2016-2020 | 46-39-1 | Super Bowl LII Champion |
| Nick Sirianni | 2021-present | — | Super Bowl LVII appearance |
Frequently Asked Questions
See Also
- Lincoln Financial Field
- South Philadelphia Sports Complex
- Philadelphia Sports Culture
- Veterans Stadium
References
- ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles". Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved December 23, 2025