Philadelphia Eagles
The
Philadelphia Eagles are a
National Football League team based in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team was founded in
1924 as the Frankford Yellowjackets (Frankford being a neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia) and renamed the Philadelphia Eagles in
1933 by co-owners Lud Wray and
Bert Bell. Their home stadium is
Lincoln Financial Field (2003-), with previous home venues having been
Veterans Stadium (1971-2002),
Franklin Field (1958-1970),
Connie Mack Stadium (1940-1957), Municipal (later renamed
John F. Kennedy Stadium) (1936-1939),
Baker Bowl (1931-1935), and Frankford Stadium (1924-1930).
Their uniform consists of colors of midnight green, black, and white, with their helmet design a white wing on a green helmet.
- League championships won: 1926 (Frankford), 1948, 1949, 1960.\n:Super Bowl appearances: XV (lost)
Franchise history
Founded in 1924, the Frankford Yellowjackets won the NFL championship in 1926, but by 1930 their fortunes had begun to decline rapidly, both on the field and financially; on October 26, 1931 the team suspended operations one day after a 13-12 victory at Wrigley Field over the Chicago Bears (whom the franchise would not defeat on the road again for another 68 years). After not playing at all in 1932, Lud Wray and Bert Bell reactivated the club on July 9, 1933, under a new name, the Philadelphia Eagles.
The newly-renamed team struggled mightily at first, not even so much as managing a single winning season until 1944, one year after playing together with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a team known as "Phil-Pitt" (this unusual arrangement being due to World War II). But then things quickly turned around: Led by running back Steve Van Buren, the Eagles reached the NFL title game in each of the last three years of the 1940s, winning two of the contests. Their next appearance in a league championship game would take place in 1960, with quarterback Norm Van Brocklin and linebacker Chuck Bednarik leading the offense and defense, respectively (Bednarik was also the last NFL player to play both offense and defense, lining up at center when the offense had the ball). The Eagles won this game, 17-13 over the Green Bay Packers, which was played at Franklin Field on December 26, 1960.
The following year the Eagles finished just a half-game behind the New York Giants for first place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 10-4 record, but would not seriously contend again until soon after Dick Vermeil became the head coach in 1976. Starting in 1978, the Eagles qualified for the postseason four consecutive times, including making their lone Super Bowl appearance ever following the 1980 season, but they lost, 27-10, to the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV, played on January 25, 1981. A period of decline set in after this, which ended in 1988 when they made the first of three straight playoff appearances under coach Buddy Ryan, but did not win a postseason game in any of those years. In 1991, the Eagles became the first NFL team since 1975 to rank first in the league in both rushing and passing yardage allowed, but neglected to reach the playoffs despite a 10-6 final record.
Their next period of prominence, which is still current, has come under the tutelage of head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb, who was the first player ever drafted by Reid, in 1999. With this duo leading the way, the Eagles won the NFC's Eastern Division in 2001, 2002 and 2003, also reaching the conference title game each year, but lost this game on all three occasions.
The 2003 team lost its first two games, both at home - but then proceeded to become the first team ever to make the playoffs after doing this in a non-strike year. In their opening game of the 2003 season the Eagles were shut out 17-0 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first regular-season game ever played at Lincoln Financial Field; by reaching the conference championship game in the same year as this defeat, they became the first team in modern history to get that far in the postseason after having been shut out at home in its first game. They achieved both of the above despite getting only five touchdown catches all year from their wide receivers, which tied the league low since the regular-season schedule was lengthened to its present 16 games in 1978. The Eagle receivers even went through both September and October without a TD catch - the last time an NFL team had done that was in 1945.
No doubt with the latter two facts in mind, the Eagles actively pursued - and ultimately got to trade for - premier wide receiver Terrell Owens, whom the team acquired in a controversial three-way deal involving themselves, the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, on March 16, 2004.
Players of note
\n
\n
\n
Pro Football Hall of Fame
\n*Chuck Bednarik (1967) - 1949-1962 \n*Bert Bell (1963) - 1933-1940 \n*Bob Brown (2004) - 1964-1968\n*Mike Ditka (1988) - 1967-1968\n*Sonny Jurgensen (1983) - 1957-1963 \n*Tommy McDonald (1998) - 1957-1963 \n*Earle Greasy Neale (1969) - 1941-1950 \n*Pete Pihos (1970) - 1947-1955 \n*Steve Van Buren (1965) - 1944-1951
Current stars
\n*David Akers\n*Brian Dawkins\n*Jevon Kearse\n*Donovan McNabb\n*Terrell Owens\n*Corey Simon\n*Brian Westbrook
Retired numbers
\n*15 Steve Van Buren\n*40 Tom Brooksheier\n*44 Pete Retzlaff\n*60 Chuck Bednarik\n*70 Al Wistert\n*99 Jerome Brown
Note: Although Reggie White's 92 has not been worn since Reggie had it, the number is not officially retired.
Not to be forgotten
\n*Ron Jaworski\n*Mike Quick\n*Harold Carmichael\n*Bill Bergey\n*Wilbert Montgomery\nCurrent and past coaches (since 1970)
\n*Andy Reid (1999- )\n*Ray Rhodes (1995-1998)\n*Rich Kotite (1991-1994)\n*Buddy Ryan (1986-1990) \n*Marion Campbell (1983-1985)\n*Dick Vermeil (1976-1982)\n*Mike McCormack (1973-1975)\n*Ed Khayat (1971-1972)\n*Jerry Williams (1969-1971)
External link
\n* Philadelphia Eagles official web site
Category:American football teams\n
