As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game
being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players
from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy
that notion.
Considering that the Philadelphia Eagles were founded in 1933, the task
becomes quite challenging. Today, I have taken on the daunting task of
compiling an All-Time Eagles team. The Eagles have three NFL
championships (1948, 1949, 1960) and a Super Bowl title (2017). Earl
Neale coached the 1948-1949 teams. Buck Shaw coached the 1960 NFL
title. Current head coach Doug Pederson led the 2017 team. Dick Vermeil,
Andy Reid, Buddy Ryan, Ray Rhodes and Rich Kotite led various playoff
seasons. The Eagles had some fallow years in the late 1960s to mid 1970s
along with the mid 1980s and a few other isolated ones. Nonetheless, there
is enough positive history to create a dream team.
There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player needed to have
played at least four seasons as an Eagle. Since the free agency era began 30
years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make
this list. Being in the Hall of Fame is the first consideration coupled with
impact on the franchise. The number of All-Pro seasons are a top
consideration with longevity also helping immensely. While I understand it
is hard to compare eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion.
Generational reminders
All eras matter. Being on an NFL or Super Bowl winning Eagles team does
not get you a hall pass on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level
performers get considered.
To further the challenge, we are constructing the roster in two-deep format,
which means some worthy players get left off the list. So, before you make
a case to put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the list at
that position?”
OFFENSE
QB -- First team: Donovan McNabb. Honorable mention: Randall
Cunningham.
Though Nick Foles the latter delivered what McNabb, Cunningham and
Ron Jaworski could not (a Super Bowl title), he was mostly a case of
“lightning in a bottle.” McNabb, however, was a consistent performer over
a long stretch of time (11 years as an Eagle). McNabb’s toughness was an
underrated trait. He delivered six Pro Bowl seasons. McNabb was the
fourth quarterback in NFL history to amass more than 30,000 passing
yards, 200 touchdown passes, 3,000 rushing yards, and 20 rushing
touchdowns in his career. Much of Cunningham’s 11 seasons in Philadelphia
can be described as “what might have been.” Buddy Ryan, who was the
head coach from 1986-1990, was a defensive guru who looked at offense as
an annoyance. Nonetheless, Cunningham was one of the best NFL players
regardless of position from 1987-1990. Cunningham was a three-time Pro
Bowler, NFL MVP in 1990 and Comeback Player of the Year in 1992.
RB -- First team: Steve Van Buren, LeSean McCoy. Honorable mention:
Brian Westbrook, Wilbert Montgomery.
Van Buren, who played from 1944-1951, was the best running back in the
NFL in the pre-Jim Brown era. On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Van
Buren played for back-to-back NFL champions (1948-1949) and six Pro
Bowls in eight seasons. Van Buren’s postseason performances, however,
put him at the top of this list. McCoy played six years as an Eagle and is
the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. When McCoy was in his prime he
was incredibly elusive and versatile both as a runner and receiver. As an
Eagle, McCoy was a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro. The
perception of Westbrook is that he was a third down/change of pace
running back. Westbrook was a threat to score every time the ball was in
his hands. In eight years as an Eagle, he compiled 9,785 yards from
scrimmage, 426 receptions and 68 touchdowns. Montgomery may be an
honorable mention on this list but remains a Philadelphia legend.
Montgomery was the franchise leader in career rushing yardage until
McCoy eclipsed his record. Mongomery was a two-time Pro Bowler in
eight seasons but had some great postseason performances.
FB -- First team: Keith Byars. Honorable mention: Tom Woodeshick.
Byars was like a Swiss Army knife in that he could line up as either a tight
end or fullback. Byars played from 1986-1998 (seven as an Eagle) but his
game would translate very well today. At the time he retired, Byars was the
NFL’s all-time leader in career receptions for a running back. Woodeshick
was a powerful runner and played more games as an Eagles than any
running back in franchise history. Though Woodeshick played on some bad
teams in the 1960s, he was a reliable weapon, ranking ninth in career rushing
yards. Woodeshick, who made one Pro Bowl, had three consecutive years
with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
WR -- First team: Tommy McDonald, Pete Pihos. Honorable mention:
Mike Quick, Harold Carmichael.
Pihos and McDonald are Hall of Famers who achieved their feats before
football rose in popularity, from 1947-1955 and 1957-1963 respectively.
Pihos was a vital piece to the Eagles reaching three straight NFL
championship games, two of which they won. Pihos was also a six-time
Pro Bowler and five-time All Pro, damn impressive in any era. Despite his
lack of size (5-9, 180), McDonald thrived as an NFL receiver. Any
non-kicker that didn’t wear a face mask deserves first-team status on this
list. McDonald, who played from 1957-1963, scored 66 touchdowns in
88 games. McDonald was a five-time Pro Bowler and member of the
1960 NFL championship team. Carmichael had an imposing build that
was more like an NBA forward at 6-8. Carmichael went from college tight
end to star NFL receiver. Carmichael was a four-time Pro Bowler and
retired as the franchise leader in career receptions, yardage and touchdowns.
Quick played nine seasons with the Eagles but in his prime, Quick was a
sight to behold. Quick was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro.
He also possessed a career 17.8 yards per catch average.
TE -- First team: Pete Retzlaff. Honorable mention: Zach Ertz.
One day these two could get flip flopped but for now Retzlaff holds the
top spot. Retzlaff was versatile enough to line up as a running back, wide
receiver or tight end. Retzlaff, who played from 1956-1966, was one of
the first pass-catching tight ends. He was a five-time Pro Bowl participant
and one-time All Pro. Retzlaff was a member of the 1960 NFL
championship team and is No. 3 in franchise history for career receptions.
Like Retzlaff, Ertz is a versatile one. Ertz recently completed his eighth
season and remains the best active tight end not named George Kittle or
Travis Kelce. Zertz is a three-time Pro Bowler, one time All Pro and
member of the 2017 Super Bowl champions. Ertz is 65 catches away
from surpassing Carmichael for the franchise lead in career receptions.
OT -- First team: Jason Peters, Bob Brown. Honorable mention: Al
Wistert, Jerry Sisemore.
Peters spent four seasons as a Buffalo Bill but his subsequent 10 years as
an Eagle were nothing short of superb. Nicknamed “The Bodyguard,”
Peters was a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro. He came back
from a double torn Achilles and torn ACL as well. Peters was a member
of the 2017 Super Bowl champions. He is a Hall of Fame worthy player.
Though Brown, who played from 1964-1968, would be small by today’s
standard. He weighed 280 pounds at a time when 250 was the norm for
offensive tackles. Nonetheless, Brown, who also played for the Rams and
Raiders, made the Pro Bowl and All Pro in three of his five seasons
with Philadelphia on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Like many
players of his generation, Wistert, who played from 1944-1951, operated
on both offense and defense. The Eagles are embarrassingly deep at the
defensive line but Wistert belongs somewhere. Though Wistert is not in
the Hall of Fame, he is deserving. Wistert played for two NFL champions,
was a Pro Bowler four times and All Pro once. Sisemore is one of the best
offensive linemen in franchise history, which speaks to the depth at this
position. Though Sisemore played three is his 12 years at guard, his best
work came as a tackle. Sisemore was a two-time Pro Bowler and went
two straight years allowing nary a sack.
OG -- First team: Bucko Kilroy, Evan Mathis. Honorable mention:
Todd Herremans, Shawn Andrews.
Kilroy played from 1943-1955 and was a classic two-way player at both
guard on offense and tackle on defense. Kilroy was a three-time Pro
Bowler, helped the franchise win back-to-back titles in 1948-1949 and
opened up many holes for Van Buren. Mathis played 12 NFL seasons
with five different teams but his best work came in four years as an Eagle.
During which time, Mathis made two Pro Bowls and one All Pro.
Herremans did not make a Pro Bowl in ten seasons but gets high marks
for longevity as an Eagle. Herremans also played both guard positions
and was a capable fill-in at right tackle. Though Andrews' time as an Eagle
was brief (2004-2007) as injuries and depression derailed his career. When
he suited up, however, he produced. Andrews made two Pro Bowls and
one All Pro.
C -- First team: Chuck Bednarik. Honorable mention: Jason Kelce.
There is simply not a better Philadelphia Eagle regardless of position than
Bednarik. Though known for his thunderous hit on New York Giants
running back Frank Gifford as a linebacker, “Concrete Charlie” also
shined as a center. Bednarik was a 60-minute man. He played every snap
of every game at age 35 in 1960. After the Eagles Super Bowl win in
2017, Kelce gave a legendary speech to the masses at the Super Bowl
parade. The crux of Kelce’s speech was “hungry dogs run faster.” Kelce
is plenty hungry. He is a three-time Pro Bowler in his five seasons.
Kelce, who recently completed his ninth season, is an outstanding athlete.
DEFENSE
DE -- First team: Reggie White, Clyde Simmons. Honorable mention:
Trent Cole, Hugh Douglas.
The only reason White is not more known as an Eagle is because he had a
big hand in leading the Green Bay Packers return to prominence.
Nonetheless, White was part of some all-time great defenses in
Philadelphia. Routinely double-teamed but was equally dominant against
both the run and pass. As an Eagle, White was a seven-time Pro Bowler
and six-time All Pro on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Simmons
played in the shadow of White but was no less valuable and often took
advantage of White getting double-teamed. Simmons was a ninth round
draft choice and is No. 11 in NFL history with 121.5 quarterback sacks.
In eight years as an Eagle, he was a Pro Bowler and All Pro twice. Cole
was the dreaded “tweener” in that he could be a 4-3 end or 3-4
linebacker. Nonetheless, he was a Stalwart from 2005-2014. Cole, who
was a two-time Pro Bowler, recorded 90.5 quarterback sacks and
numerous more pressures. Douglas’ honorable mention status on this
team speaks to the Eagles depth at this position. Douglas was a three-
time Pro Bowler and one-time All Pro in five years. From 2000-2002,
he was a game-wrecker. He averaged 12 sacks and 17 tackles for loss
in that span.
DT -- First team: Fletcher Cox, Jerome Brown. Honorable mention:
Vic Sears, Charlie Johnson.
Cox, who recently completed his eighth season, has made a career of
demolishing opposing offenses. Cox was instrumental in the Eagles
2017 Super Bowl championship. That season, Cox was perhaps the
best defensive player in the NFL regardless of position. He’s versatile
enough to be a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 end. Cox has been to the Pro Bowl
four times and All Pro once. Brown is a “what might have been” story
because he died in an automobile accident after his fifth season.
Nonetheless, playing between White and Simmons, Brown was a
menace and perhaps the best run stopping defensive tackle of his
generation and was pretty damn good as a pass rushing. Two Pro
Bowls and All Pro seasons. Johnson was an Eagle for five seasons
but was a Pro Bowler three times and All Pro twice. In Johnson’s five
seasons, the Eagles allowed just 15.2 points per contest. Sears played
from 1943-1951 and fit the mold of classic two-way player. Sears was
a crucial member to the Eagles winning back-to-back NFL titles in
1948-1949.
OLB -- First team: Seth Joyner, Chuck Bednarik. Honorable mention:
William Thomas, Jerry Robinson.
It is commonly believed that Bednarik was an inside linebacker but since
the Eagles frequently only deployed two at that position, “Concrete
Charlie” fits perfectly as an outside linebacker. Bednarik played in eight
Pro Bowls, was an All Pro eight times and a member of two NFL
champions. The Hall of Famer is one of the best players in NFL history
regardless of position. Joyner was an eight-round pick in 1986 that didn’t
make the team in training camp but is one of the best Eagles of all time
regardless of position. He played in the shadow of other defensive greats
but all he did was make plays. Joyner was a two-time Pro Bowler in eight
seasons. Thomas is never mentioned as an all-time Eagles great but he was
incredibly well-rounded. He was solid against the run and exceptional
against the pass. He had two Pro Bowl appearances, 37 sacks, 27
fumble interceptions, 12 fumbles recoveries and four touchdowns.
Robinson played six years as an Eagle and became a star by his second
season. In that span, Robinson helped the 1980 team reach the Super
Bowl, producing 17 takeaways and one Pro Bowl.
ILB -- First team: Max Baughan, Bill Bergey. Honorable mention:
Jeremiah Trotter, Frank LeMaster.
The Eagles mortgaged heavy draft picks to acquire Bergey in a trade
from the Cincinnati Bengals, to the tune of two first round draft picks
along with one second. Bergey’s play in Philadelphia proved the trade
worthwhile. In seven seasons, Bergey was a four-time Pro Bowler and
two-time All Pro. Bergey returned from a knee injury to help lead the
Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in 1980. Only Bednarik made more
Pro Bowls as a linebacker as an Eagle than Baughan, yet the franchise
traded him to the Rams after six seasons. Baughan was a five-time Pro
Bowler, helped the team win the 1960 championship and missed just two
games because of injury. Trotter had three stints with the Eagles, enjoying
a cup of coffee with the Redskins and Buccaneers in between. Trotter,
however, was an Eagle through and through. In his generation, Ray
Lewis and Brian Urlacher received many headlines but Trotter was not
far behind among inside linebackers. Trotter was nicknamed “The
AxeMan,” was a four-time Pro Bowler and one-time All Pro. LeMaster
made just oine Pro Bowl in nine seasons but gets high marks for
durability and reliability. He produced 17 takeaways and helped the 1980
team reach the Super Bowl.
CB -- First team: Eric Allen, Troy Vincent. Honorable mention: Tom
Brookshier, Asante Samuel.
Allen and Vincent would have been a dynamic tandem had they played
together. When Allen played, the Eagles seemingly never whiffed on
defensive draft picks. Allen played seven years with the Eagles, three more
with New Orleans and four with Oakland. As an Eagle, Allen missed just
one game, during which time he was a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time
All Pro. Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Brian Dawkins formed a deadly
secondary. Vincent was a five-time Pro Bowler in eight seasons as an Eagle
and was All Pro once. The end of Brookshier’s career was an injustice as it
ended after nine seasons with a compound fracture. Brookshier, however,
intercepted eight passes as a rookie, was a Pro Bowler in back-to-back
seasons (1958-1959) and member of the 1960 NFL champions. Samuel
came to the Eagles via free agency. He meets the minimum requirement to
make this team, being an Eagle for four seasons. In that span, he was a
three-time Pro Bowler. Samuel was shutdown cornerback material in his
time as an Eagle, also intercepting 23 passes in 56 regular season contests.
S -- First team: Brian Dawkins, Malcolm Jenkins. Honorable mention:
Bill Bradley, Wes Hopkins.
Dawkins was in a select group of being a hard-hitting safety in his generation
if not NFL history. The Eagles built their defense around Dawkins and
he dominated. In 13 years as an Eagle, Dawkins was a Pro Bowler seven
times and All Pro four times. The Hall of Fame inductee was a hammer
against the run and a ball-hawking safety. His 34 career interceptions are a
three-way tie for the franchise lead with Allen and Bill Bradley. Jenkins spent
his first five years with the New Orleans Saints. He never played a full season
in five years but turned into a brilliant free agent signing. Jenkins was very
versatile in that he could play safety, linebacker and nickel corner. He was a
three-time Pro Bowler and instrumental in the 2017 team winning the Super
Bowl. Bradley had perhaps the best single season in franchise history by a
defensive player in 1971, 11 interceptions for 248 retards and two more
fumble recoveries. Bradley, however, was no flash in the pan. He was a
three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All Pro. Though Hopkins made just
one Pro Bowl and was All Pro once in 11 seasons, the hard-hitting safety
tandem that he formed with Andre Waters was devastating on the “Gang
Green” defense. Hopkins finished his career with 30 interceptions.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K -- First team: David Akers. Honorable mention: Paul McFadden.
Akers played for six different NFL teams but was most known for his 12
years as an Eagle. Akers began his career in Philadelphia as a long field
goal specialist. He became the regular kicker and the rest is history. Akers
holds the franchise record for games played and was a five-time Pro Bowl.
There was not much longevity at this position other than Akers but
McFadden, who played from 1984-1987, gets the honorable mention nod.
He was the NFC Rookie of the Year in 1984.
P -- First team: Donnie Jones. Honorable mention: Sean Landeta.
Jones played for six different teams, four of which came as an Eagle. In
that span, Jones was a member of the 2017 Super Bowl champions. He
averaged 45.4 yards per punt in his career, which is the all-time gross
average in franchise history. He placed 120 punts inside the opponents’
20-yard line. Landeta is known best for his years with the division rival
Giants but had an impactful four seasons as an Eagle from 1999-2002.
RETURN -- First team: Timmy Brown. Honorable mention: Wally
Henry.
Brown was an all-purpose running back but made much of his hay as a
returner. Brown was a threat to score every time the ball was in his hands.
If he didn’t score, they could provide the offense with a favorable field
position. Between punt and kickoff returns, Brown compiled 4,997 yards
and six touchdowns. Henry, who played from 1977-1982, averaged 8.3
yards on punt returns and 22.4 yards on kickoffs.
HEAD COACH -- First team: Earl Neale. Honorable mention: Andy
Reid.
In ten seasons, Neale compiled a record of 66-44-5 but that mark is
deflated by his first two seasons, when the team went 4-17-1. His finest
hour came in 1948-1949 when leading the Eagles to back-to-back
NFL championships. Neale was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Though
Reid did not deliver a Super Bowl title in Philadelphia as he recently did
for Kansas City, he should get high marks for consistent success over a
period of time. In his 14 seasons with the Eagles, the franchise won six
division titles, reached the NFC championship game five times and the
Super Bowl one time.
TEAM: 2017
This team broke a 47-year championship drought to bring a championship
parade. Despite quarterback Carson Wentz sustaining a season-ending knee
injury in Week 14, the Eagles did not flinch. They earned the NFC No. 1
seed with a 13-3 record but were underdogs throughout the playoffs. They
held off Atlanta (15-10), railroaded Minnesota (38-7) and defeated New
England (41-33) in the Super Bowl.
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