Philadelphia Eagles Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The Philadelphia Eagles are a National Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team was founded in 1933 by co-owners Bert Bell and Lud Wray. 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), and Baker Bowl (1933-1935).
Their uniform consists of colors of midnight green, black, silver and white, with their helmet design a white wing on a green helmet. Their mascot is Swoop.
- League championships won: 1948, 1949, 1960.
- Super Bowl appearances: XV (lost)
Bert Bell and Lud Wray, co-owners of the Frankford Yellow Jackets, an inactive NFL franchise since midway through the 1931 season, were granted permission to reactivate the club on July 9, 1933, under a new name, the Philadelphia Eagles. Neither the Eagles nor the NFL officially regards the two franchises as the same, citing the aforementioned period of dormancy; however, some observers believe the two teams should be treated as one.
The Eagles struggled mightily at first, not even so much as managing a single winning season until 1943, when they temporarily merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers to form a team known as "the Phil-Pitt Steagles" (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. In a bizarre coincidence, former Eagles head coach Joe Kuharich died on the same day as the above game. Kuharich was the team's head coach from 1964 through 1968; in the latter year he became the target of demands by fans that he be fired, who used the slogan "Joe Must Go" as their ralling cry (the 1968 Eagles lost their first eleven games and finished 2-12). He had signed a "lifetime contract" with Jerry Wolman, who had owned the club at the time he was hired; on May 1, 1969, Wolman sold the team to Leonard Tose, whose first official act as owner was to fire Kuharich, who continued to draw a salary under the contract until his death.
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.
Fight Song...
Fly Eagles Fly...on the road to victory...Fly Eagles Fly, score a touchdown 1,2,3...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!
Armed with the world-renowned Philadelphia Cheesesteak and alcoholic beverages, Philadelphia Eagles fans are often considered to be among the most hostile and violent in professional sports, prompting a courtroom to be built inside the stadium to deal with law-breaking fans immeadiately.
Philadelphian Ed Rendell led fellow Eagles fans in a mass snowballing of Cowboys' coach Jimmy Johnson and later became mayor of the city. He is currently the governor of the state.
This is an Article on Philadelphia Eagles. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Philadelphia Eagles Franchise history
Fans
Players of note
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Current stars
Retired numbers
Note: Although Reggie White's 92 has not been worn since Reggie had it, the number is not officially retired.Not to be forgotten
Current and past coaches (since 1958)
External link