Coverage News Center - The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the most storied and successful franchises in the NFL, having won four NFL championships and one Super Bowl title. The Eagles have also produced some of the greatest players and coaches in the history of the sport, such as Chuck Bednarik, Reggie White, Randall Cunningham, Brian Dawkins, Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid, and Nick Foles. The Eagles have a loyal and passionate fan base, who are known for their devotion and intensity, as well as their criticism and frustration.
However, the Eagles have also experienced some of the most dramatic and disappointing seasons in the NFL, having lost in the Super Bowl three times, and having missed the playoffs in eight of the last 11 seasons. The Eagles have also faced some of the most controversial and turbulent issues in the NFL, such as the Michael Vick scandal, the Chip Kelly experiment, the Carson Wentz saga, and the Doug Pederson firing. The Eagles have also struggled to find a consistent and stable identity, culture, and direction, as they have gone through several changes in ownership, management, coaching, and personnel.
## The Glory Days
The Eagles were founded in 1933 as a replacement for the bankrupt Frankford Yellow Jackets. The Eagles joined the NFL as an expansion team, and adopted their name from the symbol of the National Recovery Act, a New Deal program that aimed to revive the economy during the Great Depression. The Eagles played their home games at various stadiums in Philadelphia, such as the Baker Bowl, the Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, and the Franklin Field.
The Eagles had their first taste of success in the late 1940s, when they won three consecutive NFL championships in 1948, 1949, and 1960, under the leadership of head coach Greasy Neale and quarterback Tommy Thompson. The Eagles had a dominant defense, led by Hall of Fame center and linebacker Chuck Bednarik, who was known as the last of the 60-minute men, as he played on both offense and defense. The Eagles also had a potent offense, featuring running backs Steve Van Buren and Timmy Brown, and wide receivers Pete Pihos and Tommy McDonald.
The Eagles had another period of glory in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when they reached the Super Bowl for the first time in 1980, under the guidance of head coach Dick Vermeil and quarterback Ron Jaworski. The Eagles had a balanced and explosive offense, with running backs Wilbert Montgomery and Leroy Harris, wide receivers Harold Carmichael and Mike Quick, and tight end Keith Jackson. The Eagles also had a fierce and aggressive defense, with defensive end Claude Humphrey, linebacker Bill Bergey, and cornerback Herman Edwards.
The Eagles had their most recent and memorable era of glory in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when they reached the NFC Championship Game four times in a row, and the Super Bowl for the second time in 2004, under the direction of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb. The Eagles had a dynamic and versatile offense, with running backs Duce Staley and Brian Westbrook, wide receivers Terrell Owens and DeSean Jackson, and tight end Brent Celek. The Eagles also had a stingy and opportunistic defense, with defensive end Hugh Douglas, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, safety Brian Dawkins, and cornerback Troy Vincent.
The Eagles reached the pinnacle of their glory in 2017, when they won their first and only Super Bowl title, in one of the most thrilling and historic games in NFL history. The Eagles, who were led by backup quarterback Nick Foles, who replaced the injured Carson Wentz, defeated the defending champion New England Patriots, who were led by the legendary quarterback Tom Brady, by a score of 41-33. The Eagles had a resilient and inspired offense, with running backs LeGarrette Blount and Jay Ajayi, wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor, and tight end Zach Ertz. The Eagles also had a relentless and clutch defense, with defensive end Brandon Graham, linebacker Nigel Bradham, safety Malcolm Jenkins, and cornerback Patrick Robinson. The Eagles also executed one of the most daring and iconic plays in NFL history, the Philly Special, a trick play that resulted in a touchdown pass from tight end Trey Burton to quarterback Nick Foles.
## The Dark Days
The Eagles have also endured some of the most painful and frustrating seasons in the NFL, having failed to live up to their expectations and potential, and having suffered some of the most heartbreaking and humiliating losses. The Eagles have also faced some of the most scandalous and turbulent issues in the NFL, having dealt with some of the most controversial and divisive personalities and decisions.
The Eagles had their first period of decline in the mid-1960s and early 1970s, when they went through a series of losing seasons and coaching changes, and failed to make the playoffs for 18 consecutive years. The Eagles had a mediocre and inconsistent offense, with quarterbacks Norm Snead and Roman Gabriel, running backs Tom Woodeshick and Po James, and wide receivers Ben Hawkins and Harold Jackson. The Eagles also had a porous and ineffective defense, with defensive end Tim Rossovich, linebacker Dave Lloyd, and cornerback Joe Scarpati.
The Eagles had another period of decline in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, when they went through another series of losing seasons and coaching changes, and failed to make the playoffs for seven consecutive years. The Eagles had a dismal and dysfunctional offense, with quarterbacks Randall Cunningham and Jim McMahon, running backs Keith Byars and Herschel Walker, and wide receivers Mike Quick and Fred Barnett. The Eagles also had a talented but troubled defense, with defensive end Reggie White, linebacker Seth Joyner, and cornerback Eric Allen.
The Eagles had their most recent and ongoing period of decline in the late 2010s and early 2020s, when they went through another series of losing seasons and coaching changes, and failed to make the playoffs for four of the last five years. The Eagles had a disappointing and unstable offense, with quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts, running backs Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard, and wide receivers Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham. The Eagles also had an aging and injured defense, with defensive end Brandon Graham, linebacker Alex Singleton, and cornerback Darius Slay.
The Eagles have also faced some of the most notorious and controversial issues in the NFL, such as:
- The Michael Vick scandal, in which the Eagles signed the quarterback in 2009, after he served 18 months in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. The signing sparked a huge backlash from animal rights activists, media outlets, and some fans, who protested and boycotted the team. The signing also divided the locker room, as some players supported Vick, while others questioned his character and leadership. Vick had a remarkable comeback season in 2010, leading the Eagles to the playoffs and earning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, but he also struggled with injuries and turnovers in the following seasons, and was released by the team in 2013.
- The Chip Kelly experiment, in which the Eagles hired the college coach in 2013, after he had a successful tenure at Oregon. Kelly implemented his fast-paced and innovative offense, which resulted in some impressive wins and records, but also some baffling losses and mistakes. Kelly also gained full control of the personnel decisions, which resulted in some bold and risky moves, such as trading away star players like LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Nick Foles, and signing expensive and underperforming free agents like DeMarco Murray, Byron Maxwell, and Sam Bradford. Kelly also clashed with some players and coaches, who accused him of being arrogant, stubborn, and insensitive. Kelly was fired by the team in 2015, after a disappointing 6-9 record.
- The Carson Wentz saga, in which the Eagles drafted the quarterback with the second overall pick in 2016, after trading up twice in the draft. Wentz had a promising rookie season, showing his potential and talent, but he also had some growing pains and challenges, such as adjusting to the NFL level, learning a new offense, and dealing with a lack of weapons and protection. Wentz had a breakout season in 2017, leading the Eagles to an 11-2 record and becoming a frontrunner for the MVP award, but he also suffered a season-ending knee injury, which opened the door for Nick Foles to take over and lead the team to the Super Bowl title. Wentz had a comeback season in 2018, showing his resilience and toughness, but he also suffered another season-ending injury, which again allowed Foles to step in and lead the team to the playoffs. Wentz had a roller-coaster season in 2019, showing his inconsistency and frustration, but he also carried the team to the playoffs, despite having a depleted and decimated roster. Wentz had a disastrous season in 2020, showing his regression and decline, but he also faced a hostile and toxic environment, such as having a poor and injured offensive line, having a weak and unreliable receiving corps, having a dysfunctional and unimaginative coaching staff, and having a controversial and divisive backup in Jalen Hurts, who replaced him as the starter in Week 13. Wentz was traded by the team in 2021, after a bitter and messy divorce, to the Indianapolis Colts.
- The Doug Pederson firing, in which the Eagles dismissed the head coach in 2021, after a disappointing 4-11-1 record. Pederson, who had led the team to its first and only Super Bowl title in 2017, and had made the playoffs in three of his five seasons, was widely respected and admired by the players and the fans, who credited him for his courage, creativity, and charisma. However, Pederson also had some conflicts and disagreements with the owner, Jeffrey Lurie, and the general manager, Howie Roseman, who questioned his decisions and performance, especially regarding the quarterback situation, the coaching staff, and the game plan. Pederson was also criticized for his controversial move in the final game of the 2020 season, when he benched Jalen Hurts for Nate Sudfeld, a third-string quarterback, in a close game against the Washington Football Team, which was seen as a sign of tanking and disrespecting the game. Pederson was replaced by Nick Sirianni, a former offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts, who was hired to rebuild the team and develop the young talent.
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