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The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The team has won three NFL titles and has two Super Bowl appearances. The club joined the NFL as an 1933 expansion team.
The Eagles conduct summer training camp at Lehigh University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.
Franchise history
Midway through the 1931 season, Philadelphia's representative in the NFL, the Frankford Yellow Jackets, went bankrupt and ceased operations. After more than a year of searching for a suitable replacement, the NFL awarded the dormant franchise to a syndicate headed by former Yellow Jackets owners Bert Bell and Lud Wray, in exchange for an entry fee of $2,500. Drawing inspiration from the insignia of the centerpiece of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, the National Recovery Act, Bell and Wray named the new franchise the Philadelphia Eagles. (Neither the Eagles nor the NFL officially regard the two franchises as the same, citing the aforementioned period of dormancy; furthermore, almost no Yellow Jackets players were on the Eagles' first roster. Some observers, however, believe the two teams should be treated as one.)
The Eagles, along with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the defunct Cincinnati Reds, joined the NFL as expansion teams. The team is regarded as a second incarnation of the defunct NFL team Frankford Yellow Jackets, who folded two years earlier due to financial hardships brought on by the Great Depression.
The Eagles struggled over the course of their first decade, enduring repeated losing seasons. In 1943, when manpower shortages stemming from World War II made it impossible to fill the roster, the team temporarily merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers to form a team known as "the Phil-Pitt Steagles." (The merger, never intended as a permanent arrangement, was dissolved at the end of the 1943 season.) By the late 1940s, head coach Greasy Neale and running back Steve Van Buren led the team to three consecutive NFL Championship Games, winning two of them in 1948 and 1949.
The Eagles won their third NFL championship in 1960 under the leadership of future Pro Football Hall of Famers Norm Van Brocklin and Chuck Bednarik. But they would not qualify for the postseason again until the late 1970s-early 1980s when head coach Dick Vermeil and quarterback Ron Jaworski led the team to four consecutive playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl XV loss to the Oakland Raiders.
Philadelphia then struggled throughout the mid-1980s. But from 1988 to 1996, they qualified for the playoffs during 6 out of those 9 seasons. Among the team's offensive stars during that period were quarterback Randall Cunningham, tight end Keith Jackson, and running back Keith Byars. But the defense is what defined the team, led by Reggie White, Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Seth Joyner, Wes Hopkins, and Andre Waters.
In 1999, the Eagles hired head coach Andy Reid and drafted quarterback Donovan McNabb. Since then, the team has played in four consecutive conference championship games between 2001 and 2004. But the Eagles advanced only to Super Bowl XXXIX, where they were defeated by the New England Patriots.
Fight Song
Eagles fans will sing the team fight song with little to no provocation, and always after an Eagles touchdown.
Fly, Eagles Fly, on the road to victory!
(FIGHT!!, FIGHT!!, FIGHT!!)
Fight, Eagles Fight, score a touchdown one-two-three!
(ONE!!, TWO!!, THREE!!)
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 fight song was reputedly the creation of former owner Jerry Wolman's daughter, who, impressed by the "war chant" of the rival Washington Redskins, implored her father to play an Eagles equivalent during their games. With the later sale of the team and move to Veterans Stadium, the fight song was largely forgotten, although a few die-hards could be heard singing the lyrics on special occasions. That it was ultimately brought back to such popular acclaim is testament to the vision of Jeffrey Lurie, whose regime reinstated the practice of playing the song over stadium loudspeakers (with a modern addition of projecting the lyrics on the scoreboard) after Eagle touchdowns. The song is now ubiquitous wherever Eagles fans are found. The song has been heard at Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Flyers, and Philadelphia 76ers games, and even at the Philadelphia Live 8 concert prior to the show. The song is sometimes sung with a slight modification, especially on local radio, in which the lyrics "watch our Eagles fly!" are replaced with "watch those opposing team's name cry!" (e.g. "watch those Cowboys cry!").
Interestingly, the Lurie revival was accompanied by a slight adjustment of the lyrics. Originally, the second line of the song was:
"Fight, Green and White, score a touchdown, one-two-three!"
With Lurie's modernization of team uniforms, however, and the new emphasis on Black and Silver, the mention of the traditional colors was omitted. Few noticed.
Broadcasters
Bill Campbell was the longtime radio voice of the Eagles, and broadcast their 1960 NFL Championship. Merrill Reese has been the radio voice of the Eagles since 1977. He is currently complemented by the color commentary of former Eagle wide receiver Mike Quick, noted for his unique turns of phrase (e.g., "McNABB-ulous!"). Before Quick, Reese's sidekick was Stan Walters, former All-Pro Eagles offensive tackle.
Eagles games are broadcast in the greater Philadelphia area on 94.1 Free FM WYSP. Many Eagles fans so prefer Reese's radio coverage of the game that they mute their televisions and watch the game while listening to his broadcast.
Reese's play-by-play of the final minute of the Eagles' victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the 2004 NFC Championship Game (to send the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX) is among the most frequently replayed radio broadcast segments of the past decade.
Fan misbehavior
Eagles fans' devotion to their team is reflected by ticket sales: games are invariably sold out, and the waiting list for season tickets numbers 60,000. In June 2006, tickets for home games were sold out in a matter of minutes after opening phone and internet lines. Despite finishing with a 6-10 record in the 2005-2006 season, the Eagles ranked second in the NFL in merchandise sales the following year.
Through poor judgment and alcohol, some fans have occasionally transgressed against civilized behavior. While such misbehavior is familiar to many who have attended sporting events anywhere in the world, Eagles fans have had the misfortune to act up on several high-profile occasions, many on national television, earning them a reputation of rowdiness.
The most infamous example was the "Santa Claus Incident," on December 15, 1968, at Franklin Field, in which angry fans, upset at the conclusion of yet another failed season under head coach Joe Kuharich (including first losing 11 games, then winning 2, which prevented the team from getting first pick in the next draft, O.J. Simpson), booed and threw snowballs at a man dressed as Santa Claus during the halftime show.
Frank Olivo, a 19-year-old fan dressed as Santa Claus who had been drafted from the stands as an ad hoc replacement for the scheduled Christmas pageant, was the target of the crowd's anger. As Olivo recounts, fans threw snowballs at him after he reached the end zone, shouting that he made a poor Santa. According to local news reporter Ray Didinger, Olivo was intoxicated. Olivo, in turn, pointed to a culprit, instructing them that they'd have empty stockings that Christmas. This led to more snowballs. Subsequently, a legend was born.
Other high-profile examples of fan misbehavior include:
- At a December 10, 1989 game dubbed "Bounty Bowl II" against the Dallas Cowboys, the city failed to clear the stadium following a snowstorm. Fans threw snowballs onto the field, pelting Cowboys players and coaching staff, NFL officials, and one another. Future Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell got caught up in the fallout from that game when he admitted to a reporter that he had bet another fan $20 that he couldn't reach the field with a snowball.
- During a November 10, 1997 Monday Night Football game against the San Francisco 49ers, the Eagles fans, in a 24-12 loss, infuriated by a series of calls by the officials and poor play by the Eagles, engaged in a number of highly visible, large-scale brawls on national television. In the last quarter, one fan fired a flare gun across the stadium into empty seats in the 700 level. Other ignominious incidents that evening include a woman flashing from the luxury suites and a man operating a chainsaw in the parking lot. Shortly thereafter, the infamous Veterans Stadium courtroom was established.
- A contingent of Eagles fans traveled to the 1999 NFL Draft in New York for the sole purpose of jeering the Eagles selecting anyone other than Heisman Trophy winning running back Ricky Williams. Local radio hosts had recruited the boorishly behaving crew to protest the selection, which turned out to be future Pro-Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb. McNabb stayed composed during the incident, and the thirty or so fans who booed him were subsequently derided as the "Dirty Thirty," while the radio hosts in question were widely criticized for their roles as instigators. McNabb has since become one of Philadelphia's most beloved sports icons.
- During a October 10, 1999 game against the division rival Dallas Cowboys, Cowboys wide receiver (and bete noire of Eagle fans) Michael Irvin was knocked unconscious when his head was driven into Philadelphia's hard turf-covered cement field after a catch. As Irvin lay prostrate and immobile on the turf, some Eagles fans cheered the injury. Irvin was ultimately diagnosed with a broken neck, and the injury ended his career. In that game, the Eagles rallied from a 10-0 deficit to earn their first victory of the season, 13-10.
Acts of violence by Eagles fans against fans of visiting teams, combined with ongoing difficulties with public drunkenness, prompted Philadelphia municipal judge Seamus McCaffrey and the Philadelphia Police Department to establish a small, in-stadium courtroom at the Vet in 1997. Additionally, plainclothes officers, dressed in the colors of the visiting team, were dispatched to sit in sections known as being dangerous to opposing fans, most such sections being located in the Vet's notorious "700 Level" upperdeck. The success of the program was widely noted and has continued to the present day, as Lincoln Financial Field includes a built-in prison facility and courtroom. Eagles fans caught in violation are arrested, charged and taken to the courtroom, where McCaffrey usually sits in judgment.
Eagles in popular culture
In 1998, Tony Danza starred in The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon. He played a sanitation worker named Barney Gorman, whose garbage truck wouldn't close its payload properly so he kicks the lever shut. His leg becomes so strong that he can kick field goals in excess of 50 yards, and the Eagles sign him up.
The fictional story of Gorman is similar to the true story of Vince Papale, which is told in the 2006 film Invincible. Mark Wahlberg plays Papale, a bartender who had attended nearby St. Joseph's University and briefly played for the World Football League's Philadelphia Bell, who at the age of 30 was invited to attend an open tryout for the Eagles, and makes the team as a wide receiver, playing from 1976 to 1978. In reflection of the fictional boxer from Philadelphia, Papale was nicknamed "Rocky."
Books about the Eagles and their fans include:
- The Great Philadelphia Fan Book, by Glen Macnow and Anthony Gargano, both hosts on Philadelphia's sports-talk radio station WIP (2003).
- The Great Philadelphia Sports Debate, by Macnow and Angelo Cataldi, another WIP host (2004).
- The Eagles Encyclopedia, by Ray Didinger and Robert Lyons (2005).
- A Sunday Pilgrimage: Six Days, Several Prayers and the Super Bowl, by Gargano (2005).
- If Football's a Religion, Why Don't We Have a Prayer? Philadelphia, Its Faithful, and the Eternal Quest for Sports Salvation, by Jere Longman (2006).
Season-by-season records
Lost NFL Championship (C. Cardinals)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Buccaneers)
Won Conference Championship (Cowboys)
Lost Super Bowl XV (Raiders)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys)
Lost Divisional Playoffs (Giants)
Won Divisional Playoffs (Bears)
Lost Conference Championship (Rams)
Lost Conference Championship (Buccaneers)
Lost Conference Championship (Panthers)
Won Conference Championship (Falcons)
Lost Super Bowl XXXIX (Patriots)
Players of note
Current players
Pro Football Hall of Famers
- Chuck Bednarik (1967) - 1949-1962
- Bert Bell (1963) - 1933-1940
- Bob Brown (2004) - 1964-1968
- Mike Ditka (1988) - 1967-1968
- Sonny Jurgensen (1983) - 1957-1963
- Ollie Matson (1972) 1964-1966
- Tommy McDonald (1998) - 1957-1963
- Earle "Greasy" Neale (1969) - 1941-1950
- Pete Pihos (1970) - 1947-1955
- Jim Ringo (1981) - 1964-1967
- Norm Van Brocklin (1971) - 1958-1960
- Steve Van Buren (1965) - 1944-1951
- Reggie White (2006) - 1985-1992
- Alex Wojciechowicz (1968) - 1946-1950
Retired numbers
- 15 Steve Van Buren
- 40 Tom Brookshier
- 44 Pete Retzlaff
- 60 Chuck Bednarik
- 70 Al Wistert
- 92 Reggie White
- 99 Jerome Brown
Eagles Honor Roll
In 1987, the Eagles Honor Roll was established. Each Eagle player who had by then been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was among the inaugural induction class.- 60 Chuck Bednarik, C-LB, 1949-62, inducted 1987
- Bert Bell, founder-owner, 1933-40, inducted 1987
- 17 Harold Carmichael, WR, 1971-83, inducted 1987
- 56 Bill Hewitt, TE-DE, 1936-39 and 1943, inducted 1987
- 9 Sonny Jurgensen, QB, 1957-63, inducted 1987
- 31 Wilbert Montgomery, RB, 1977-84, inducted 1987
- Earle "Greasy" Neale, Head Coach, 1941-50, inducted 1987
- 35 Pete Pihos, TE-DE, 1947-55, inducted 1987
- 33 Ollie Matson, RB, 1964-66, inducted 1987
- 54 Jim Ringo, C, 1964-67, inducted 1987
- 11 Norm Van Brocklin, QB, 1958-60, inducted 1987
- 15 Steve Van Buren, RB-S, 1944-51, inducted 1987
- 53 Alex Wojciechowicz, C-DT, 1946-50, inducted 1987
- 66 Bill Bergey, LB, 1974-80, inducted 1988
- 25 Tommy McDonald, RB, 1957-63, inducted 1988
- 40 Tom Brookshier, CB, 1954-61, inducted 1989
- 44 Pete Retzlaff, TE, 1956-66, inducted 1989
- 22 Timmy Brown, RB, 1960-67, inducted 1990
- 76 Jerry Sisemore, OT, 1973-84, inducted 1991
- 75 Stan Walters, OT, 1975-83, inducted 1991
- 7 Ron Jaworski, QB, 1977-86, inducted 1992
- 28 Bill Bradley, S-P, 1969-76, inducted 1993
- Dick Vermeil, Head Coach, 1976-82, inducted 1994
- Jim Gallagher, team executive, 1949-95, inducted 1995
- 82 Mike Quick, WR, 1982-90, inducted 1995
- 99 Jerome Brown, DE, 1987-91, inducted 1996
- Otho Davis, head trainer, 1973-95, inducted 1999
- 92 Reggie White, DE, 1987-92, inducted 2005
Despite having his number 70 retired, Al Wistert has not been inducted into the Eagles Honor Roll.
Bednarik, Bell, Pihos, Van Buren, McDonald and broadcaster Bill Campbell have also been inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
Other notable alumni
- Leonard Tose, Owner
- 1 Tony Franklin, K
- 5 Roman Gabriel, QB
- 8 Paul McFadden, K
- 9 Jim McMahon, QB
- 12 Randall Cunningham, QB
- 13 Norm Snead, QB
- 20 Andre Waters, SS
- 21 Eric Allen, CB
- 21 Bobby Taylor, CB
- 22 Duce Staley, RB
- 23 Troy Vincent, CB
- 29 Harold Jackson, WR
- 32 Ricky Watters, RB
- 34 Herschel Walker, RB
- 41 Keith Byars, RB
- 43 Roynell Young, S
- 46 Herman Edwards, CB;
- 46 Izel Jenkins, CB
- 48 Wes Hopkins, S
- 51 William Thomas, LB
- 53 Bill Romanowski, LB
- 53 Hugh Douglas, DE
- 56 Byron Evans, LB
- 59 Seth Joyner, LB
- 69 Woody Peoples, G
- 76 Bob Brown OT
- 78 Carl Hairston, DT
- 80 Cris Carter, WR
- 80 Irving Fryar, WR
- 81 Terrell Owens WR
- 86 Fred Barnett, WR
- 87 Claude Humphrey, DE
- 88 John Spagnola, TE
- 90 Mike Golic, DT
- 90 Corey Simon, DT
- 95 John Bunting, LB
- 95 William Fuller, DE
- 96 Clyde Simmons, DE
Head coaches
- Andy Reid (1999- )
- Ray Rhodes (1995-1998)
- Rich Kotite (1991-1994)
- Buddy Ryan (1986-1990)
- Fred Bruney (1985)
- Marion Campbell (1983-1985)
- Dick Vermeil (1976-1982)
- Mike McCormack (1973-1975)
- Ed Khayat (1971-1972)
- Jerry Williams (1969-1971)
- Joe Kuharich (1964-1968)
- Nick Skorich (1961-1963)
- Buck Shaw (1958-1960)
- Hugh Devore (1956-1957)
- Jim Trimble (1952-1956)
- Wayne Millner (1951)
- Bo McMillin (1951)
- Earle "Greasy" Neale (1941-1950)
- Bert Bell (1936-1940)
- Lud Wray (1933-1935)
Current Staff
- CEO - Jeffrey Lurie
- General Manager - Tom Heckert
- President/Chief Operating Officer - Joe Banner
- Head Coach - Andy Reid
- Offensive Coordinator - Marty Mornhinweg
- Defensive Coordinator - Jim Johnson
- Special Teams Coach - John Harbaugh
- Quarterbacks Coach - Pat Shurmur
- Running Backs Coach - Ted Williams
- Wide Receivers Coach - David Culley
- Tight Ends Coach - Tom Melvin
- Offensive Line Coach - Juan Castillo
- Offensive Assistant - Bill Shuey
- Defensive Line Coach - Pete Jenkins
- Linebackers Coach - Steve Spagnuolo
- Defensive Backs Coach - Trent Walters
- Defensive Assistant - Mike Reed
- Strength and Conditioning - Mike Wolf
Notes
External links
- Philadelphia Eagles official web site
- Philadelphia Eagles news and opinion sources
- The EagleMobile website
- Sports E-Cyclopedia.com
1933 establishments | National Football League teams | Philadelphia Eagles | Sports in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles | Philadelphia Eagles | Eagles de Philadelphie | Philadelphia Eagles | Philadelphia Eagles | フィラデルフィア・イーグルス | Philadelphia Eagles | Philadelphia Eagles | 费城老鹰
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