The Eagles captured
three NFL titles from 1948 to 1960, earning consecutive crowns in
1948 and 1949 under head coach Earle “Greasy” Neale.
His potent offensive squad starred future Hall of Fame members end
Pete Pihos, halfback Steve Van Buren, and center Chuck Bednarik,
who also played linebacker for the defensive unit.
Led by wide
receiver Harold Carmichael and quarterback Ron Jaworski, Philadelphia
played in Super Bowl XV in 1981 but lost to the Oakland Raiders.
The club qualified for the playoffs six times from 1988 to 1996,
with lineups starring wide receiver Fred Barnett, quarterback Randall
Cunningham, running backs Herschel Walker and Ricky Watters, and
defensive end Reggie White.
In 1933 Bert
Bell and Lud Wray bought the NFL’s Frankford Yellow Jackets
and moved the team to Philadelphia. Renamed the Eagles, the club
struggled, posting losing records in each of its first ten seasons.
By the mid-1940s,
however, the Eagles had improved. From 1947 to 1949, Greasy Neale
piloted the club to three consecutive Eastern Division crowns and
two league titles. Steve Van Buren, a mainstay of these teams, captured
three of his four NFL rushing titles from 1947 to 1949. Pete Pihos
led the league in receptions three times during his career and in
receiving yards twice. Chuck Bednarik missed just three games in
14 seasons in Philadelphia.
After posting
five losing records in the 1950s, the Eagles won their third NFL
crown in 1960. Quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, playing his final
season, was named the league’s most valuable player (MVP)
after passing for nearly 2500 yards. Van Brocklin’s favorite
targets, wide receivers Tommy McDonald and Pete Retzlaff, helped
Philadelphia rally to defeat the Green Bay Packers in the championship
game.
In 1961 Van
Brocklin was replaced at quarterback by another eventual Hall of
Fame member, Sonny Jurgensen. In his first full season Jurgensen
threw for a league-record 3723 yards, breaking the previous mark
by more than 600 yards. (The record is now held by Dan Marino of
the Miami Dolphins, who threw for 5084 yards in 1984.) Nearly a
third of Jurgensen’s yards went to McDonald, who led the league
in yardage (1144) and touchdowns (13).
From 1962 through
1977 Philadelphia employed six different head coaches, but the team
could not remain an NFL force. Although the Eagles boasted individual
stars in running back Timmy Brown, wide receiver Harold Jackson,
quarterback Roman Gabriel, and linebacker Bill Bergey, the Eagles
did not reach the playoffs until 1978, Dick Vermeil’s second
year as head coach.
From 1978 to
1981 Vermeil guided the Eagles to four consecutive playoff appearances.
In 1981 the team advanced to the Super Bowl, where they lost to
the Oakland Raiders 27-10.
After a six-year
playoff drought, Philadelphia qualified for the postseason four
times from 1988 to 1992. Guided by former Chicago Bears defensive
coordinator Buddy Ryan, the Eagles developed a slashing offense
centered around Randall Cunningham, who became a skilled passer
and also emerged as one of the greatest running quarterbacks in
NFL history. Cunningham was the Eagles’ top rusher each year
from 1987 to 1990; in 1990 he threw for 30 touchdowns and rushed
for more than 1000 yards. Under head coach Ray Rhodes, Philadelphia
earned Wild Card berths in the playoffs in 1995 and 1996.
1981 Super Bowl
XV Lost to Oakland Raiders, 27-10
2005 Bowl XXXIX Lost to
New England Patriots 24-21
